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GUIDE TO THE ARCHIVES 



OF THE 



GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
IN WASHINGTON 



BY 

CLAUDE HALSTEAD VAN TYNE 

AND 

WALDO GIFFORD LELAND 



SECOND EDITION 

REVISED AND ENLARGED 
BY 

W. G. LELAND 




PUBLISHED BY THE CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON 

1907 









Carnegie Institution of Washington 

Publication No. 92 
revised edition of publication no. 14 



PAPERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH 
J. FRANKLIN JAMESON, EDITOR 



Gift 

PteMfibmr 

10 Mr '08 



PRESS OP 

THE NEW ERA PRINTING COMPANY 

LANCASTER. PA. 



PREFATORY NOTE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 

The guide to the archives of the government at Washington was begun 
in January, 1903, by Mr. Van Tyne and Mr. Leland, who carried the work 
forward for some months. In the autumn of that year the task of com- 
pleting the survey of the archives and of arranging the materials for pub- 
lication naturally fell to the newly organized Bureau of Historical Research. 
This task was not completed until the spring of 1904, most of the work being 
done by Mr. Leland. The character and scope of the volume were somewhat 
changed and developed while the data were being collected. The purpose 
at the outset was to gather information as to the whereabouts of important 
historical materials, to discover how they were preserved and arranged, and 
to give descriptions of them that would be of service to the historical investi- 
gator. As the work proceeded, it was apparent that there could be no hard 
and fast line between historical collections and ordinary administrative 
records, and that every branch and division of the Government must be 
examined with care, even if the reports on its manuscript records should 
ultimately be passed over with scarcely more than a word in the final report. 
It also became clear that a short history of each bureau or division, and a 
succinct statement of its duties, methods of work, and mode of keeping its 
records, would be of service to all students interested in the mechanism of the 
government or in the growth of its administrative machinery, and would 
at the same time be the safest guide to those seeking to know where archives 
of a certain character are likely to be found. As a result, the work has 
developed into a survey of all the branches, bureaus, and divisions of the 
federal government in Washington, and includes more than a mere descrip- 
tion of their records and collections. The historical data have been gathered 
and the references to printed authorities and the bibliography have been 
prepared with care and patience, and it is to be hoped that this feature will 
appeal to students of history and government. 

The book, as we have it here, purports to be only a general survey. Only 
where materials are of special interest historically is there any effort to give 
anything approaching detailed information. In some cases it was' impossible 
to get details, in others facts actually gathered seemed not appropriate to 
the present volume and have therefore not been printed. The Bureau of 



IV 



Prefatory Note. 






Historical Research 1 is continuing the study of the archives, and hopes to 
make from time to time reports on the portions that have peculiar interest to 
historical investigators. 

A. C. McLaughlin, 
Carnegie Institution of Washington, Director. 

August 27, 1904. 

1 Now called Department of Historical Research. — Ed. 






INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST EDITION. 

The compilers of this work were confronted at the outset by a series of 
problems, in the solution of which they were unaided by anything that might 
serve as a model. The conditions in Washington are so different from those 
abroad that English, French, and Italian archive reports served only to sug- 
gest certain classes of information that it was desirable to obtain, and were 
of little service in determining the final form of the Guide or in indicating 
the best methods for gathering the data. Furthermore, there had been no 
previous attempt to make any general examination of all the records of the 
Federal Government in Washington, nor indeed had any examination of the 
records of a single department been attempted, though a few general state- 
ments as to certain classes of material to be found in Washington had ap- 
peared in print. It is worth while to state at length the difficulties that were 
encountered in the prosecution of this task, because they not only serve to 
show the character of the information to be found in the following pages, 
but also suggest to historical investigators the conditions to be met in any 
extended investigations of the archives. 

In the preliminary preparations for the work it was realized that the 
material to be examined was widely scattered. There are eighteen or twenty 
distinct departments, commissions, or other governmental organizations, which 
are in turn divided into considerably more than a hundred bureaus or offices ; 
many of these are still further divided into divisions or branches. Further- 
more the history of many of the departments or bureaus is very complicated, 
a fact which frequently has a serious effect upon the continuity of their 
records. Many bureaus have been transferred from one department to 
another ; departments have been reorganized, old bureaus abolished, new ones 
created, duties redistributed, and methods of business changed, until it has 
become extremely difficult to account for the location of certain classes of 
material or to discover the location of others. 

Foremost among the bureaus into which each of the great executive de- 
partments is divided is the so-called " Secretary's Office ", which conducts 
the business overseen by the secretary in person, and the records of which 
are the records of the secretary's official acts; sometimes these records are 
all kept together, sometimes they are divided among the divisions of the office ; 
sometimes they are scattered throughout the bureaus of the department. 
Each bureau usually keeps its own records; but while those of one bureau 
may be found together, those of another are scattered among a dozen divi- 
sions. Nor does the dispersion of the records always stop here; in some 



VI 



Introduction. 






divisions the files are scattered among subordinate branches and there are 
almost as many methods as there are file-rooms. In one office, for example, 
all the letters received from the establishment of the office are to be found 
in a single unbroken series; in another the letters received are arranged in 
different series. Perhaps for the first ten years the letters were kept to- 
gether; then, as their number increased, other series were started; later, 
again, some of these scries were consolidated; and still later possibly the 
method of keeping all papers, both letters received and copies of letters 
sent, in a single series was adopted. Thus papers of the same class are 
filed under varying titles. 

The indexing of the records varies also with different file-rooms. In 
general the indexes make any particular letter or paper easily accessible, 
but do not aid in finding the papers of any one class or on any particular 
subject, and hence are of slight service in preparing a general description 
of the records. The older indexes are of little value for any purpose what- 
soever; and the index-books that were in general use until a few years ago 
are so complicated that their use by the uninitiated is extremely difficult. 
The system of indexing by means of cards is, however, rapidly coming 
into use. 

Another difficulty encountered was the inconvenient or even inaccessible 
location of a part of the material. In several offices the earlier records are 
boxed up and stored in vaults or attics; in others they are hidden behind 
piles of lumber or large cases. In still other offices, while the records are 
actually accessible, considerable physical discomfort is attendant upon an 
examination of them. 

The mere mass of these records of the government is well-nigh appalling. 
It is impossible to form an estimate of the aggregate space occupied by 
them; in a single office of the Treasury Department, for example, they 
cover over ten miles of shelving; the volumes of diplomatic and consular 
correspondence in the State Department are to be numbered by thousands; 
a few years ago the Adjutant-General reported that in addition to several 
tons of Confederate records already described there were over ten tons of 
books and papers, the character of which had not as yet been ascertained. 
In some departments entire buildings are rented for no other purpose than 
that of filling them from cellar to attic with records and files that are not in 
immediate demand in the prosecution of current work. 

Finally the widely varying value of the different classes of records consti- 
tutes a problem in itself. From the papers of the Continental Congress or 
the journals of the Confederate Congress to the correspondence relating 
to the pay or dismissal of a janitor there is a considerable depreciation in 
value; in general, however, there may be said to be two classes of files: 
those that constitute the administrative records, and those that are almost 



</ 



Introduction. vii 

entirely of historical interest and actually exist as completed collections. 
Of this latter class may be mentioned, for example, the Continental Con- 
gress papers, inherited from the old government; the Franklin and Madison 
papers, acquired by purchase; the archives of the Confederate government, 
captured upon the fall of the Confederacy; and the collection of Revolu- 
tionary orderly books and journals segregated from the administrative 
records of the Pension Office. The papers of this class are in general readily 
accessible, are often indexed or catalogued in such a way as to be serviceable 
to the student, and are properly arranged and cared for. Many of these 
collections are being transferred to the Library of Congress. 

The administrative records comprise the files relating to the actual admin- 
istration of the government and consist largely of correspondence, accounts, 
reports, and similar papers. To this class belong the diplomatic and consular 
correspondence, the correspondence of the Navy Department with officers 
of the Navy, military reports of army officers, and other material of the 
greatest value, along with tons of adjusted accounts and thousands of file- 
boxes filled with letters relating to the most unimportant details of routine 
business. Furthermore, in almost any series of volumes the worthless letters 
far exceed in number those having historical importance. 

With these conditions confronting the compilers, they realized that any 
inventory, anything approaching a complete catalogue, was out of the 
question, and they resolved to prepare a guide that should show in what 
office or department any particular class of material is to be found, and 
that should describe, though in the most general terms, the material actually 
there. They attempted to ascertain, in the case of any one office or division, 
the different classes of material on file, their general character and probable 
value, the dates of the earliest files, and the extent of the records as a whole. 
In some cases more than this was possible; in others, less; while in a few 
instances the material was of so little value that they felt justified in omitting 
all description of it. Furthermore, inasmuch as one purpose of the Guide 
was to enable an investigator to know where he should search for any 
particular class of material, it was decided to include under each bureau 
an account of its history and duties, the compilers realizing from their own 
experience that such information sheds considerable light upon the exact 
character and extent of the records. 

The method of examining the records necessarily varied. In most in- 
stances a file-clerk was detailed to answer questions and to explain methods 
of indexing and arrangement. In a few offices a detailed examination, 
almost volume by volume, was made; in others a rapid walk through file- 
rooms containing miles of shelving was either sufficient or was all that was 
permitted. In two or three offices those in charge requested that a list of 
questions relating to the records be submitted, and from the written replies 



Vlll 



Introduction. 



to these questions the reports for those offices were compiled. Finally a 
supplementary search in printed material, mostly in the executive documents, 
was made for information bearing directly or indirectly upon the files of 
the various departments and bureaus. In some cases the information thus 
gained constituted a valuable addition to that derived from a personal exam- 
ination or questioning. 

The criticism will probably be made that due proportion has not been 
observed ; that some records of great value receive only a general description, 
whereas other material of much less value has received a greater amount 
of space. The foregoing account of the conditions met with should be a 
sufficient reply to this justifiable charge. In a few cases access to im- 
portant material for the purpose of making any more than the most general 
description was not permitted by the authorities, while in others detailed 
lists were furnished by the authorities themselves ; furthermore, it not infre- 
quently happened that important classes of records were of such great 
extent as to render impossible the detailed description which was practicable 
for other records, less important perhaps, but also of less formidable bulk. 
The compilers desire to express their appreciation of the uniform courtesy 
with which they have been received in the departments. In many cases 
officials have not only afforded every facility for making an examination of 
the records in their charge, but have furnished lists and other valuable in- 
formation or have offered suggestions of great service. Especially valuable 
help and suggestions have been afforded by Mr. Andrew Hussey Allen of 
the State Department, by General F. C. Ainsworth and General A. W. 
Greely of the War Department, by Mr. S. M. Gaines, Mr. W. I. Simpson, 
and Mr. Lewis Jordan of the Treasury Department, by Mr. George F. 
Stone of the Post-Office Department, by Mr. Charles W. Stewart of the 
Navy Department, and by Mr. W. Bertrand Acker of the Interior Depart- 
ment. To the Librarian of Congress, Mr. Herbert Putnam, and to Mr. 
Worthington C. Ford, chief of the Division of Manuscripts, the debt of the 
authors is very great, not only because of the splendid resources of the 
Library of Congress, which were placed at their disposal, but because of 
the great interest shown and the helpful suggestions made in the prosecu- 
tion of the work. 

C. H. Van Tyne. 

W. G. Leland. 
September, 1901f. 



INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND EDITION. 

The problem confronting the investigator in the archives of the federal 
government remains substantially as stated above in the introduction to the 
first edition of the Guide. Some few signs, however, such as the continued 
concentration of the military records, the reorganization of the archives 
of the Department of State, the effort to collect a large body of naval 
archives, the remarkable growth of the Division of Manuscripts in the 
Library of Congress, and the selection of a site for a Hall of Records, 
indicate a greater interest in the development of a national archive suitably 
organized and maintained. 

In preparing the second edition of the Guide the usual work of correct- 
ing errors, verifying statements, supplementing the bibliographical data, 
altering classification when required by administrative changes, and bringing 
the accounts to date has been performed, and in several cases the text has 
been much amplified. Additional investigations have been made in the 
Bureau of Indexes and Archives and the Bureau of Rolls and Library, both 
of the Department of State, in the Mail and Files Division of the Treasury 
Department, in the office of the chief clerk of the Department of Justice, 
in all the offices of the Post-Office Department, in the office of the auditor 
for the Post-Office Department, and in the Naval War Records office, while 
additional information respecting the records of several other offices has 
been obtained by inquiry. Several bureaus not included in the first edition 
are noted in the present volume, although in none of them are there records 
of much historical importance; and finally, more space has been given to the 
various departmental and bureau libraries. 

A large share of the additional investigations just noted has been per- 
formed by Mr. J. H. Russell, till lately an assistant in the Department of 
Historical Research, and by Dr. C. H. Lincoln, formerly of the Library of 
Congress, who have also rendered much assistance in various other ways. 
It remains to acknowledge the assistance furnished by several investigators 
whose notes on certain groups of material have been placed at the service 
of the reviser, and by the great number of officials who by suggestions or 
personal aid have placed him under many obligations to them; chief among 
these should be mentioned Dr. C. O. Paullin, of Washington, Mr. L. M. 
Perez, of Havana, formerly of the Library of Congress, Dr. J. P. Bretz, 
of the University of Chicago, Dr. I. J. Cox, of the University of Cincinnati, 
Dr. Anna Heloise Abel, of the Woman's College of Baltimore, Mr. Charles 
Meyerholz, of Harvard University, and Mr. K. L. Russell, of the Post- 
Office Department. W. G. Leland. 

June 10, 1907. 

ix 
























■V 






A V - \ 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Prefatory Note m 

Introduction to the First Edition v 

Introduction to the Second Edition ix 

The White House 1 

Department of State , . . 2 

Bureau of Indexes and Archives 3 

Bureau of Rolls and Library 32 

Diplomatic Bureau 54 

Consular Bureau 54 

Bureau of Appointments 55 

Bureau of Accounts 55 

Bureau of Trade Relations 55 

Passport Bureau . 56 

Treasury Department rr 57 

Division of Mail and Files 58 

Division of Book-Keeping and Warrants ' 72 

Register of the Treasury 75 

Treasurer of the United States 77 

Comptroller of the Treasury 79 

Auditor for the Treasury Department 81 

Auditor for the War Department 84 

Auditor for the Interior Department 85 

Auditor for the Navy Department 86 

Auditor for the State and other Departments 88 

Auditor for the Post-Office Department 90 

Commissioner of Internal Revenue 96 

Comptroller of the Currency 98 

Bureau of Engraving and Printing 98 

Director of the Mint 99 

Secret Service Division 99 

Supervising Architect 99 

Bureau of Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service 100 

Life-Saving Service 101 

Department of War 102 

Office of the Secretary of War 104 

General Staff 105 

Office of the Adjutant-General 106 

Inspector-General 118 

Judge- Advocate-General 120 

Quartermaster-General 122 

Commissary-General 123 

Surgeon-General 124 

xi 



Xll 



Table of Contents. 



Paymaster-General 125 

Chief of Engineers 125 

Office of Public Buildings and Grounds 128 

Chief of Ordnance 131 

Chief Signal Officer 132 

Bureau of Insular Affairs 133 

Department of Justice 137 

Office of the Chief Clerk 138 

Assistant Attorney in Charge of Dockets 143 

Attorney in Charge of Pardons 144 

Appointment Clerk 144 

Solicitor of the Treasury 145 

Assistant Attorney-General in Charge of Cases before the Court of Claims 146 

Assistant Attorney-General in Charge of Indian Depredation Cases 146 

l'uvr-OFFicE Department 147 

Office of the Postmaster-General 148 

First Assistant Postmaster-General 157 

Second Assistant Postmaster-General 160 

Third Assistant Postmaster-General 166 

Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General 169 

Navy Department. 172 

Naval War Records Office 175 

Bureau of Navigation 196 

Bureau of Construction and Repair 197 

Judge- Advocate-General 199 

Headquarters of the Marine Corps 199 

Department of the Interior 200 

Patents and Miscellaneous Division, Office of the Secretary 200 

Appointment Division, Office of the Secretary 204 

Board of Pension Appeals 204 

Indian Division, Office of the Secretary 204 

Office of Indian Affairs 205 

Bureau of Pensions 209 

General Land Office 219 

Patent Office 225 

Bureau of Education 226 

Geological Survey 227 

Department of Agriculture 230 

Department of Commerce and Labor 231 

Coast and Geodetic Survey 231 

Commissioner of Navigation 233 

Office of Steamboat Inspection 234 

Light-House Board 234 

Bureau of Labor 235 

Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization 236 

Bureau of Corporations 236 

Bureau of the Census 237 



Table of Contents. xiii 

Bureau of Manufactures 240 

Bureau of Fisheries 240 

Bureau of Standards 241 

Bureau of Statistics 241 

Civil Service Commission 242 

Interstate Commerce Commission 244 

The Smithsonian Institution 246 

Supreme Court of the United States 250 

Court of Claims 252 

Senate 255 

House of Representatives 256 

Library of Congress 257 

Division of Manuscripts 257 

Division of Maps and Charts 295 

The International Bureau of the American Republics 296 

Bibliography 297 

Index 309 



THE GOVERNMENT ARCHIVES AT 
WASHINGTON. 



THE WHITE HOUSE. 

The custom which has prevailed whereby retiring Presidents take with 
them as personal property all the letters, papers, and other records of their 
respective administrations, has resulted in scattering abroad much historical 
material of the utmost value. The papers of many of the administrations 
thus exist at present as collections in various parts of the country. The 
Library of Congress, for example, has in its possession several of these 
collections, while part of the Polk papers is in the library of the Chicago 
Historical Society, the Adams papers are deposited with the Massachusetts 
Historical Society, and the Buchanan papers are in the possession of the 
Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Other papers are more or less scattered. 
It is true that in the archives of the various executive departments is to be 
found in large part the correspondence of the Presidents with the respective 
departments, but this material is so scattered that it would be impossible 
for the student to use it in any collected form. The only records, other 
than the papers of the present administration, now to be found in the 
White House are two volumes of Grant's letter-books. 

1. Letter-boohs of President Grant, 1869-July, 1875 {2 vols.). 

These books contain copies of Grant's letters to members of the cabinet, 
to the commissioner of public buildings and grounds, to the public, both 
individuals and societies, to congressmen, to financiers, etc. They cover 
such subjects as nominations, resignations, appointments, the detailing of 
men for duty at the White House, acceptance of cabinet positions, invitations 
to attend meetings of societies, appointments to the Naval and Military 
Academies, courtesies of foreign governments, the panic of 1873, etc. 
Most of the material is of slight historical interest, but of the few im- 
portant letters may be mentioned one dated June 27, 1870, stating that 
Grant had given verbal instructions to General Babcock to go to San 
Domingo and learn the wishes of the people and of the government regard- 
ing annexation to the United States. Another letter of October 17, 1870, 
concerns the same matter. There is also a very interesting letter to A. G. 
Cattell, of March 21, 1871. Many of the letters are purely personal, and 
some even of Mrs. Grant's letters are to be found here. 
2 1 



Department of State. 



DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 

The history and functions of the Department of State are clearly set 
forth in W. H. Michael's " History of the Department of State " (Wash- 
ington, 1901). Earlier accounts are: " Department of State of the United 
States ; how it was formed ; what are its duties, and how it is run " (Wash- 
ington, 1898: prepared for the exhibit of the Department of State at the 
Omaha exposition); "The Department of State of the United States: Its 
History and Functions ", by Gaillard Hunt (Washington, 1893); and " De- 
partment of State, 1 789-1 8(!(! ", by D. D. T. Leech, in the form of articles 
in tin- " National Intelligencer" for June 8, 10, and 11, 1867. The so- 
called " Cockrell Report " (Sen. Rept. 507, pt. 3, 50 Cong., 1 sess.) contains 
a detailed account of the work performed in the various bureaus as they 
were organized in 1887. 

The archives of the department are unusually complete, having fortu- 
nately suffered no considerable losses by fire or otherwise. Their very 
evident value and the necessity of constantly referring to them have caused 
better care to be taken of them than of the archives of some of the other 
departments, although a large amount of miscellaneous material was, until 
some years ago, entirely unarranged. Some few papers have been de- 
stroyed as of no value: see H. Ex. Doc. 128, 52 Cong., 1 sess. 

The general rule relating to the use of the archives of the department 
is as follows: 

The privilege of access to the manuscript archives of the Department of State may 
be secured, so far as the facilities at command and the convenience of the office 
admit, upon application by letter to the Secretary of State. Applicants should 
describe as concisely and definitely as may be possible the papers they desire to 
consult, the scope of the examination contemplated, and the period of time during 
which they purpose to avail themselves of the permission, if accorded. 

(1) Persons to whom the privilege of consulting the manuscript archives of the 
Department of State is granted can exercise the permission only subject to the 
convenience of the department and the uninterrupted transaction of its business. 

(2) No manuscript shall at any time be taken out of the department except by 
order in writing of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. 

(3) No manuscript shall be taken out of the Bureau of Rolls and Library into 
any room of the department until a receipt in form and descriptive of the paper or 
volume be signed by the official taking the same and delivered to the chief of the 
bureau, or, in his absence, to the person in charge. 

(4) No manuscript shall be detained from its place on the shelves of the Bureau 
of Rolls and Library after 4.30 p. m. of the day it shall have been taken; and no 
manuscript shall be taken from its place on the shelves by any others than the clerks 
in charge, except by special arrangement in exceptional circumstances. 

(5) The use of the indexes in the room in which the manuscripts are deposited is 
not permitted except through the clerks in charge. 



Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 3 

(6) The privilege of consulting the manuscript archives does not include the use 
of the Library. The latter privilege must be independently asked for of the chief 
of the Bureau of Rolls and Library. 

BUREAU OF INDEXES AND ARCHIVES. 1 

1 The description here presented applies to the archives and to the system under 
which correspondence was recorded and filed previous to August 15, 1906. On that 
date a new method was instituted, under which all important correspondence is filed 
numerically in the "major file," a number being assigned to each subject and a 
sub-number to each paper relating to that subject. A chronological synopsis of the 
correspondence under each number is kept in a separate file of record-cards. 

The unimportant routine correspondence of the department is kept in the " minor 
file," in a strict alphabetical order, diplomatic despatches and instructions appearing 
under the name of the country, diplomatic notes under the name of the embassy or 
legation, consular despatches and instructions under the city, and miscellaneous 
communications under the names of the correspondents. 

A complete card-index is maintained covering the entire correspondence, and the 
use of books, both for indexing and for recording, has been discontinued. 

In the Bureau of Indexes and Archives is preserved all the correspondence 
of the State Department except that relating to appointments, passports, 
publications, accounts, etc. It is arranged in three classes — diplomatic, 
consular, and miscellaneous. While the diplomatic and consular corre- 
spondence is conducted by the Diplomatic and Consular Bureaus respec- 
tively, it is finally deposited in the Bureau of Indexes and Archives; hence 
the Diplomatic and Consular Bureaus have no archives of their own. In 
general, it may be said that these archives are accessible to the student, 
either through a personal examination or through written requests for 
information. In the former case the student is ordinarily allowed to ex- 
amine the material and to take such notes as he wishes, but his notes are 
inspected by the chief of the bureau, who may withhold such of them as he 
judges should not be taken away. In making a personal examination, the 
student receives all the aid which the clerical force of the bureau can afford 
without interference with its regular work. In case a written request for 
information is made, the request should be as specific as possible. The 
limited number of the clerical force and the great amount of departmental 
work do not permit of extended researches, but as much attention as pos- 
sible is given to requests for information. 

These archives, even those of the earliest date, are in constant use by the 
department. Their especial value for official purposes lies in the pre- 
cedents that they reveal. For a detailed statement of the methods of 
arrangement and indexing prior to August 15, 1906, see Michael's " His- 
tory and Functions of the Department of State ", 74—79. In the account 
below statements are made as to the indexing and arrangement of the various 
series. 



4 Department of State. 

The descriptions which follow of the archives of the bureau are based 
upon a confidential pamphlet prepared by Mr. Pendleton King, former 
chief of the bureau, " Inventory of Archives in the Bureau of Indexes and 
Archives" (Washington, 181)7); upon a report by Mr. Andrew C. Mc- 
Laughlin on " The Diplomatic Archives of the Department of State, 
1780-1810" (Washington, Carnegie Institution, 1904); and upon a great 
mass of notes made during elaborate personal investigations by Messrs. 
A. C. McLaughlin and J. H. Russell, sometime of the Department of 
Historical Research in the Carnegie Institution, and Mr. C. H. Lincoln. 

I. Diplomatic Archives. 

The diplomatic archives from 1780 to August, 190G, are contained in 
about 3,000 volumes, and are arranged in the following series: 

1. Instructions. 

These include all letters from the department to diplomatic representatives 
of the United States abroad. The series commences with January 23, 1791, 
although earlier letters, to United States representatives in France, Morocco, 
Great Britain, Netherlands, and Spain, arc contained in the volumes of 
Foreign Letters in the Bureau of Rolls and Library. A single unclassified 
series of Instructions entered in chronological order extends from January 
23, 1791, to March 8, 1833, in 13 volumes, and contains, with some excep- 
tions, all letters to representatives. It is supplemented and continued by 
volumes 14, 15, and 1G, still unclassified, labelled "American States", 
which cover the period from April 2, 1829, to January 14, 18G5. Since 
1829 many, and since January 14, 18G5, all instructions have been grouped 
in series under the respective countries to which they pertain. The dates 
on which these series commence vary; each series appears to have been 
commenced when the bulk of the material relating to the country to which 
it pertained became so great as to make it impracticable to continue to 
place the letters in the unclassified volumes. To 1870 this material is 
indexed in the front of the record-books; since then (i. e., to August 15, 
190G) it has been indexed in folio index-books (in which are also indexed 
the Notes from the Department), and by a card-index. 

#. Despatches. 

Despatches include the letters to the Department of State from diplomatic 
representatives abroad, together with all inclosures, such as notes sent by 
ministers of foreign states to our representatives there, or material, printed 
and manuscript, bearing on foreign conditions. From the beginning of 
the government despatches have been classified in separate series for the 
different countries, but occasionally the despatches of a minister who went 
to two countries are found in one volume, which thus really belongs in two 






Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 5 

series. This fact is often a source of perplexity to the investigator and 
an understanding of it will frequently explain the apparent absence of 
material in certain series. A separate series known as " Letters from 
United States Ministers" extends from 1789 to 1830, in 54 volumes, but 
consists for the most part of duplicate despatches. The despatches to 
1870 are indexed in 73 volumes, which also include the indexes of Notes 
to the Department from about 1828 to 1870. Those from June 1, 1870, 
to August, 1906, are indexed in folio index-books, and by a card-index. 

3. Notes from the Department. 

Notes from the Department include all communications sent to foreign 
legations in the United States by the Department of State. " American 
Letters ", volume 4, in the Bureau of Rolls and Library contains letters to 
representatives of Great Britain, France, Spain, and the Netherlands, but 
most letters of this class prior to 1804 were included in the series of vol- 
umes entitled " Domestic Letters " (see below), which at that time included 
all letters to persons not in governmental employ. Beginning January 19, 
1804, a separate series of Notes from the Department was commenced. Of 
this series the first volume, dating from January 19, 1804, to January 25, 
1810, and containing 301 separate letters, has long been missing, and only 
an index to it remains to indicate its contents. It may not be impossible 
by one method or another to restore large portions of this lost volume. The 
letters from 1789 to 1804 are indexed in the front of Notes from the 
Department, volume II.; those from 1804 to 1870, in the front of the 
record-books; those from June 1, 1870, to August, 1906, in the folio index- 
books for Instructions, and also by a card-index. 

Jf.. Notes to the Department. 

Notes to the Department consist of communications from foreign lega- 
tions in this country. They have from the first been bound in separate 
volumes for different countries, although notes from representatives of 
Great Britain, France, Spain, and the Netherlands are found in " American 
Letters ", volume 4, Bureau of Rolls and Library. There is one volume of 
Notes to the Department which contains miscellaneous letters, such as those 
from special missions to the United States. The letters from 1789 to 1828 
are unindexed; those from 1828 to 1870 are indexed in the 73 volumes in 
which are also the indexes to Despatches; those from June 1, 1870, to 
August, 1906, are indexed in the folio index-books for Despatches, and by 
a card-index. 

With regard to the material in the various series just described some 
general comments by Professor McLaughlin in his " Report on the Diplo- 
matic Archives of the Department of State ", may appropriately be quoted. 









6 Department of State. 

The volumes of diplomatic papers in the Bureau of Indexes and Archives are 
listed in an inventory-book, in which new volumes are entered when bound. This 
inventory gives the numbers on the manuscript volumes, showing which volumes are 
duplicates of others; it also gives the dates of beginning and ending of the volumes, 
but in many cases, especially In despatches, these dates are not early enough or lute 
enough, as the case may be. The reason for this discrepancy in dates is usually the 
fact that the letters written before the minister or agent reached his post, and those 
written after leaving it, are not included in the dates given. In some cases at the 
end of a volume are found letters written by a former diplomatic officer many years 
after the termination of his mission. Besides the list of volumes of Despatches, 
Notes to the Department, Instructions, and Notes from the Department, this inven- 
tory contains lists of volumes of Circulars, of Consular Instructions and Consular 
Despatches and <>f volumes pertaining to Consular Clerks, Foreign Consuls in the 
United State-, and Special Agents. 

By the help of this inventory, volumes can usually be located readily. The system 
of arrangement of books is comparatively simple, and in almost all the books the 
manuscripts are hound in chronological order, the most noteworthy exception being 
that Inclosures are bound after the letter in which they were inclosed, though natur- 
ally preceding it in date. The records are, on the whole, in excellent condition, 
though some of the older papers are considerably discolored, or are brittle and 
breaking at the edges, thus making the reading of them difficult for the investigator. 
The handwriting of many of the earlier papers is hard to decipher, even when the 
ink has not faded. Some of the press copies are at present almost illegible. 

The arrangement in earlier .years is In some ways perplexing, and sometimes impor- 
tant documents are not to be found. It is no unusual thing to find that despatches 
of certain numbers are not in the archives, and this in spite of the fact that some- 
times as high as five copies of one paper were sent by as many different ships. It 
is interesting to note how many copies of the original number were received and to 
compare the dates of sending and of receipt. About 1831 a definite system was 
adopted. The records since that time are well arranged, and the system is easily 
understood; the records since 1831 are also more nearly complete, due to a great 
extent to improvements in navigation, but due also to careful supervision. Dupli- 
cates no longer appear, and on the other hand there are no despatches missing, as 
is the case in the earlier volumes. Evidently about that time our ministers ceased to 
send duplicate and triplicate despatches, while the Department made arrangements 
to get copies of documents that for any reason went astray. 

The earlier documents are at times somewhat hard to use, the requirement of 
uniform size in paper being a later development. Besides the manuscripts, one 
occasionally finds in these volumes printed material, such as pamphlets, invitations, 
instructions for court dress at times of mourning, and copies of papers or broadsides 
of the time. Practically all of these are without mention in the State Papers, but 
are interesting to the historian and often almost impossible to obtain elsewhere in 

this country. 

******** 

The most puzzling difficulty in the use of the material is in locating the earliest 
material under each country. If one goes to volume 1 of any series he can not be 
sure that he has found the earliest papers from that country. In the case of Instruc- 
tions and Notes from the Department, the first volume will be found numbered one 
only under countries with which diplomatic relations were entered upon compara- 
tively late; for example, Austria Instructions begin with volume 1, June 7, 1837, 









Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 7 

while Barbary Powers Instructions begin with volume 14, July 1, 1834. The reason 
for this is that the first instructions to Barbary Powers are found in the first thirteen 
volumes of unclassified instructions. The correspondence for any one country began 
to be segregated and bound in a separate series as the relations with the country 
developed and its importance increased. This fact is indicated by the dates at 
which the separate series begin. The number of the first volume of Instructions or 
Notes from the Department in the separate series for any country follows the 
number of the last volume of unclassified Instructions or Notes from the Department 
in which similar papers for the same country appear. 



Many of the duplicate papers are bound in separate volumes; in other cases dupli- 
cates are bound in the same book with the originals. A number of the duplicate 
volumes have been checked with their originals, and in every case materials have 
been found in the duplicate books that did not appear in the books of originals. 
In some cases these materials are comments by the secretary on despatches received; 
in other cases they are inclosures that did not seem suitable for binding with the 
special papers on the subject; in a few cases at the end of a duplicate despatch 
appears a postscript not added to the original, evidently appended because the dupli- 
cate despatch was copied and sent by a later ship than the original. These differences 
have indicated the necessity for examination of all duplicate books, in order that no 
material may be missed. 

There are two principal collections of printed diplomatic correspondence: 
"American State Papers: Foreign Relations" (Washington, 1832-1859, 
6 volumes), which cover the period from 1789 to 1828, and the annual pub- 
lications in the congressional series entitled " Papers relating to the For- 
eign Relations of the United States", from 1861 to date. The diplomatic 
correspondence between 1828 and 1861 is to be found scattered through 
the congressional documents. A list of the principal collections during 
this period may be found in A. B. Hart's " Trial Bibliography of Amer- 
ican Diplomacy ", in the " American Historical Review " (VI. 862), re- 
printed in his " Foundations of American Foreign Policy " (New York and 
London, 1901), 280-285. The Bureau of Indexes and Archives has segre- 
gated from the congressional series the documents pertaining to the De- 
partment of State or to foreign relations and bound them together in a 
collection of several hundred volumes, which since 1825 is practically com- 
plete. Professor McLaughlin estimates (see " Report on Diplomatic 
Archives ", p. 4) that not more than one-fourth of the material prior to 
1828 has been included in the " State Papers", and points out that much 
of the omitted material is of the greatest interest and value. 

Analysis of Diplomatic Archives. 

In the following analysis the attempt is made to indicate the diplomatic 
material relating to each of the states with which diplomatic relations are 
maintained. Not only are the extent and dates of the various series relat- 



8 Department of State. 

ing to any particular state indicated, but references are given to any 
material that has been discovered in the series relating to any other state 
or in the series of unclassified documents described below. None of the 
material is later than August 15, 1900, and when a series is indicated as 
continuing " to date " that is the date to be understood. When, however, 
a scries is indicated as continuing to some definite date, especially if that 
date be comparatively recent, it is not to be understood that the series termi- 
nates then, but merely that the later documents have not as yet been bound 
in volumes. Thus the number of volumes indicated in such a series is one 
less tlian w\\\ be found after all the documents have been bound. This 
explanation applies more particularly to the communications to the depart- 
ment (Despatches, and Notes), than to those from the department (Instruc- 
tions and Notes), for the former accumulate and are bound at intervals, 
whereas the latter are entered, as soon as written, in record volumes. It is 
not to be understood that all the material of diplomatic character in the 
Bureau of Indexes and Archives has been analyzed. Much is to be found 
in the consular archives, in the Domestic and Miscellaneous Letters and in 
the Miscellaneous Volumes and Papers that is not included. The analysis 
of what are known as the diplomatic archives, is however, regarded as rea- 
sonably complete. 

There are the following series of unclassified documents : 

Instructions, January 23, 1 791-January 14, 1805 (10 vols.). 

Xotes from Department, January 19, 1804-June 27, 1834 (5 vols.). The 
first volume of this series, January 19, 1804- May 4, 1810, is missing. An 
index to the volume is however in the archives. 

Notes to Department, October 15, 1 794-November 30, 1892 (2 vols.). 
These volumes are labelled " Other States, Notes ". 

Special Missions, 1823 to date (4 vols.). See below, p. 28, Miscellaneous 
Volumes and Papers, no. 3G. 

Argentine Republic. 

1. Instructions, commence on July 18, 1817, in the unclassified series, 
and continue in separate series from September 28, 1843, to date (4 vols.). 

2. Despatches, April 20, 1817, to date (43 vols.). The first volume is 
labelled " S. A. Mission, 1815-1818 ". 

3. Notes from Department, commence on October 9, 1824, in the unclassi- 
fied series, and continue in a separate series from September 28, 1838, to 
date (2 vols.). 

If. Notes to Department, December 9, 1818, to date (5 vols.). In " Other 
States, Notes ", volume 1, is a letter from Alvarez to Madison, May 26, 1815. 
Austria. 

1. Instructions, June 7, 1837, to date (5 vols.). 

2. Despatches, January 22, 1838-April 30, 1903 (48 vols.). 



Bureau, of Indexes and Archives. 9 

S. Notes from Department, commence on October 13, 1838, in the un- 
classified series, continue in " German States ", volume 6, and in a separate 
series, July 15, 1853, to date (3 vols.). 

Jf.. Notes to Department, November 8, 1820-June 30, 1900 (12 vols.). 

Barbary Powers. 

1. Instructions, July 1, 1834-June 10, 1886 (3 vols.). The third volume 
is now used for " Morocco", volume 16, current instructions. 

2. Despatches, found under consular Despatches. 

Belgium. 

1. Instructions, April 14, 1832, to date (3 vols.). 

2. Despatches, April 26, 1832-December 31, 1903 (36 vols.). Two 
volumes of duplicate despatches contain the letters of Alexander H. Everett, 
August 20, 1819-March 23, 1824, and of C. Hughes, January 22-September 
9, 1829. 

S. Notes from Department, commence on June 6, 1832, in the unclassified 
series and then continue from July 1, 1834, to date (3 vols.). 

J/.. Notes to Department, January 3, 1832— December 31, 1902 (10 vols.). 

Bolivia. 

1. Instructions, April 25, 1848, to date (2 vols.). 

2. Despatches, June 9, 1848-September 30, 1902 (19 vols.). 

3. Notes from Department, October 5, 1842, to date (1 vol.), accom- 
panied by Notes to the legation of Ecuador. 

4. Notes to Department, June 1, 1868-December 31, 1900 (1 vol.). 

Brazil. 

1. Instructions, commence on March 20, 1809, in the unclassified series 
and continue from May 29, 1833, to date (5 vols.). 

2. Despatches, April 3, 1809-October 31, 1903 (69 vols.). Duplicate 
despatches fill 9 volumes. 

5. Notes from Department, commence on May 26, 1824, in the unclassi- 
fied series and continue from October 22, 1834, to date (2 vols.). 

4- Notes to Department, April 5, 1 824-December 31, 1889 (6 vols.). 

Bremen. 

See " Hanseatic States ". For two letters from the Burgomasters and 
Senators of Bremen to George Washington, October 15, 1794, and No- 
vember 13, 1795, see "Other States, Notes to Department", volume 1. 

Brunswick. 

See " Other States, Notes to Department ", volume 1, for a letter from 
Charles Duke of Brunswick to Secretary Edward Livingston, Paris, Novem- 
ber 28, 1832. 



10 



Department of State. 



Bulgaria. 

1. Instructions, commence on June 16, 1903, in " Roumania ", volume 1, 
as " Bulgarian Series ", no. 1 ; after July 20, 1905, they are in " Greece ", 
volume 1, marked " Bulgarian Series ". 

2. Despatches, first with " Roumania ", now with " Greece ". 
Central America. 

The arrangement of the diplomatic papers relating to Central America 
is very complicated. Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and 
Salvador have been combined at various times and in various ways. At 
times a single minister has been accredited by the United States to several 
of these countries. 

1. Instructions, commence on March 24, 1825, in the unclassified series, 
continue in " American States " (8 vols.), and then, classified, continue 
from January, 1805, to varying dates in 1874, in " Costa Rica ", volume 17; 
" Guatemala ", volume 17; " Honduras ", volume 17; Nicaragua ", volume 
17; and "Salvador", volume 17. From 1874 to January 18, 1879, the 
instructions for all the states were bound in "Costa Rica", volume 17. 
Since then the series "Central America", volumes 18-22, has held them. 

2. Despatches. 

(a) "Central America", May 15, 1824-November 10, 1842 (volumes 

1, 2). 

(b) "Costa Rica", June 13, 1801-June 30, 1873 (volumes 1-4); de- 

spatches from October, 1857-May 1, 1801, in "Nicaragua" 

(volumes 3—0). 
"Honduras", August 29, 1801-June 30, 1873 (volumes 1, 2). 
"Guatemala", June 18, 1842-May 20, 1873 (volumes 1-5). 
"Nicaragua", March 24, 1851-July 28, 1873 (volumes 1-12); 

volumes 3—0 include Costa Rica despatches. 
"Salvador", June 12, 1803-August 20, 1873 (volumes 1-4). 

(c) "Central America" May 9, 1873-December 3, 1891 (volumes 

4-34). 

(d) "Guatemala", December 3, 1891-February 2, 1903 (volumes 

0—17). This series embraces Guatemala and Honduras, to 
which a single representative is accredited. 

(e) "Nicaragua", August 18, 1891-November 30, 1901 (volumes 

0—17). This series embraces Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Sal- 
vador, a single representative being accredited to them jointly. 

3. Notes from Department, commence in unclassified series on September 
10, 1823, continue in " Central America", June 18, 1849-January 9, 1805 
(volume 1), and are then classified as follows: "Costa Rica", volume 2, 
September 15, 1800, to date; "Guatemala", volume 2, December 30, 1800, 
to date, "Honduras", volume 2, October 2, 1807, to date; "Nicaragua", 



Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 11 

volume 2, January 3, 1867, to date, "Salvador", volume 2, December 8, 
1866, to date. 

Jj.. Notes to Department, commence in the series " Executives of American 
States" (see below, p. 27, Miscellaneous Volumes and Papers, no. 31) as 
follows: Central America, March 13, 1824; Guatemala, July 18, 1829. 
A distinct series " Central America ", extends from April 3, 1 844— December 
31, 1877 (volumes 1-6) in which volume 1, April 3, 1844-November 23, 
1857, contains notes of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Salvador, 
and volume 2, December 8, 1845— December 31, 1857, contains only the 
notes of Nicaragua. Notes of this period of Costa Rica, commencing 
September 15, 1845, Honduras, commencing April 5, 1854, Nicaragua, 
commencing September 24, 1844, and Salvador, commencing September 3, 
1853, are to be found in the series of "Executives of American States", 
mentioned above; while other notes are included in volume 1 of the un- 
classified series known as " Other States, Notes ". The notes are continued 
to date in five series as follows: "Nicaragua" January 1, 1862-December 
31, 1898 (3 vols.); "Costa Rica", January 18, 1878-November 30, 1892 
(1 vol.); "Guatemala", January 1, 1878-December 31, 1893 (2 vols.); 
" Honduras ", unbound; " Salvador ", unbound. 
Chile. 

1. Instructions, commence in the unclassified series on September 29, 
1817, and continue in a separate series from May 29, 1833, to date (4 vols.). 

2. Despatches, October 15, 1818-May 31, 1902 (48 vols.). Some early 
despatches are in the volume under Argentina marked " S. A. Mission ". 

8. Notes from Department, commence in the unclassified series on March 
6, 1828, and continue from November 6, 1834, to date (2 vols.). 

If- Notes to Department, February 19, 1828-April 30, 1893 (5 vols.). 
China. 

1. Instructions, April 24, 1843, to date (7 vols.). 

2. Despatches, June 27, 1843-March 31, 1904 (124 vols.). 
8. Notes from Department, June 3, 1868, to date (2 vols.). 

4- Notes to Department, April 1, 1868-December 31, 1901 (4 vols.). 

Colombia. 

1. Instructions, commence in the unclassified series on February 22, 1820, 
and continue in a separate series from May 29, 1833, to date (5 vols.). 

2. Despatches, March 14, 1 820-November 15, 1903 (60 vols.). 

8. Notes from Department, commence in the unclassified series on June 
18, 1822, and continue in a separate series from May 18, 1835, to date 
(2 vols.). 

J,.. Notes to Department, April 8, 1820-December 31, 1900 (9 vols.). 

Costa Rica. 

See Central America. 



12 Department of State. 

Cuba. 

1. Instructions, May 20, 1902, to date (1 vol.). 

2. Despatches, May 87, 1902-January 15, 1904 (9 vols.). 
S. Notes from Department, May 24, 1902, to date (1 vol.). 
Jf. Notes to Department, May 22, 1902, unbound. 

In the unclassified series of Notes to Department, " Other States ", vol- 
ume 1, are Cuban letters of December 12, 1843, and January 20, 1844. 
There is also much early diplomatic material relating to Cuba in " Special 
M Ksions ", volume 1 (see below, p. 28, " Miscellaneous Volumes and Papers ", 
no. 36) and in Consular Instructions, especially volume 5. 

Denmark. 

1. Instructions, commence in unclassified series on January 3, 1811, and 
continue in separate scries from March 28, 1833, to date (3 vols.). 

2. Despatches, February 22, 1811-August 31, 1902 (24 vols.). Two 
volumes of duplicate despatches appear. 

8. Notes from Department : notes as early as July 31, 1801, appear in 
the unclassified series; the regular series extends from July 1, 1834, to date 
(3 vols.). 

Jf. Notes to Department, November 14, 1812-July 31, 1900 (7 vols.). 

For earlier Denmark notes, December 10, 1802, etc., see Russia, Notes 
to Department, volume 1. 

Dominican Republic. 

1. Instructions, April 1(5, I860, to date (2 vols.). See Haiti, also 
" Special Missions " (volume 1), where are letters as early as February 22, 
1845. 

2. Despatches, December 17, 1883-October 14, 1903 (8 vols.). 

3. Notes from Department, September 18, 186G, to date (1 vol.). See 
Haiti, Notes from Department, volume 1, for earlier notes. 

4- Notes to Department, August 1, 1871-December 31, 1903 (2 vols.). 
A letter of May 27, 1858, Santo Domingo, to James Mcintosh, commander- 
in-chief of the United States squadron in the West Indies, appears in the 
series of unclassified notes, " Other States " (volume 1). 

Ecuador. 

1. Instructions, April 15, 1848, to date (2 vols.). For earlier material 
see Peru, Instructions (volume 15), and " Special Missions " (volume 1). 

2. Despatches, April G, 1 848-December 31, 1903 (18 vols.). 

S. Notes from Department, October 5, 1842, to date, in Bolivia, Notes 
from Department (volume 1). 

4.. Notes to Department, October 21, 1839-December 31, 1900 (2 vols.). 

A letter from Guayaquil, January 24, 1861, appears in "Other States, 
Notes ", volume 1. 



Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 13 

Egypt. 

A volume of instructions, November 5, 1875-June 1, 1886, appears among 
the diplomatic archives. Earlier material is in " Barbary Powers " (volume 
15), and "Special Missions" (volume 1). Other Egyptian material is in 
the consular archives. 

France. 

1. Instructions, commence on January 23, 1791, in the unclassified series 
and continue from July 20, 1829, to date (12 vols.). 

2. Despatches, September 30, 1789-September 30, 1903 (127 vols.). 
These include two volumes of North German Confederation papers, two 
volumes relating to the death of Abraham Lincoln, one volume relating to 
the joint commission of 1803-1804 and many volumes of duplicates. See 
Great Britain, Despatches (volume 11), for a number of French despatches. 

3. Notes from Department, commence on February 26, 1788, in the un- 
classified series; continue in separate series, July 1, 1834, to date (6 vols.). 

4- Notes to Department, March 18, 1801-December 31, 1903 (43 vols.). 
A few French Notes to the Department before 1801 are in a bundle among 
the Miscellaneous Volumes and Papers, no. 28 (see. below, p. 27), but most 
of the early ones are unaccountably missing. 

Germany. 

1. Instructions, commence in the unclassified series on May 27, 1797, and 
continue, first as "Prussia", April 20, 1835-December 31, 1874 (2 vols.), 
and then as "Germany", January 1, 1875, to date (7 vols.). 

2. Despatches, commence in a volume of duplicates with July 15, 1799; 
continue in separate series, October 22, 1800-September 30, 1904 (101 
vols.). Two volumes of North German Confederation papers are among 
France, Despatches. 

8. Notes from Department, commence in unclassified series on November 
11, 1817, and continue first as "German States", July 1, 1834-July 16, 
1853 (1 vol.), then as "Prussia", September 6, 1853-March 31, 1874 (2 
vols.), and "Germany", April 1, 1874, to date (5 vols.). An additional 
volume, October 14, 1853-September 30, 1869, is labelled " Hanseatic 
League Towns ". 

k Notes to Department, "Hanseatic Towns", April 3, 1 8 1 6-September 
26, 1868 (2 vols.); " Prussia", July 2, 1817-December 1, 1870 (10 vols.); 
"Germany", December 8, 1870-September 30, 1902 (22 vols.). 

Great Britain. 

1. Instructions, commence in the unclassified series on July 26, 1791, and 
continue in separate series from July 20, 1829, to date (22 vols.). 

2. Despatches, November 29, 1791-September 30, 1904 (210 vols.). These 
include four volumes of Alabama Claims and thirty-three volumes of dupli- 



14 Department of State, 

cates. Despatches from Gouverneur Morris, as agent to England, 1790, 
are found in France, Despatches (volume 3b). 

3. Notes from Department, commence in the unclassified series in October, 
1791 ; continue as separate series, July 1, 1831, to date (22 vols.). 

4- Notes to Department, September 2, 1791-June 30, 1903 (138 vols.). 

Greece. 

1. Instructions, April 3, 1808-July 7, 1882; July 27, 1905, to date (l 
vol.). Since July 20, 1905, the instructions for Montenegro and Bulgaria 
have been bound with those for Greece. The instructions for the period 
July 8, 1882- July 2(5, 1905, were bound with those for Roumania and 
Servi.i, in " Roumania " (volume 1). Early material, commencing on Sep- 
tember G, 1825, is in " Special Missions " (volume 1). 

2. Despatches, April 9, 18G8-June 30, 1903 (14 vols.). 

3. Notes from Department, June IS, 1807-August 9, 1890, in " Turkey" 
(volume 1, pp. 350-385). 

4- Notes to Department, commence June 12, 18G7, but are not bound. 
There is no legation in the United States from Greece at present. 

Guatemala. 

See Central America. 
Haiti. 

1. Instructions, July 18, 18G2, to date (4 vols.); volume 1 contains also 
Liberia. Earlier material, commencing June 13, 1849, is in "Special 
Missions ". 

2. Despatches, July 2G, 18G2-October 31, 1903 (40 vols.). 

3. Notes from Department, January 15, 1850, to date (2 vols.); contain 
also Hawaii, Dominican Republic, and Liberia. 

4. Notes to Department, May 21, 1861-December 31, 1899 (5 vols.). See 
" Other States, Notes " (volume 1) for letter of October 1G, 1851. 
Hanover. 

See "Other States, Notes" (volume 1) for letters of June 11, 1846 (to 
Secretary James Buchanan, concerning commercial relations of Hanover 
with the United States, and asking reduction of tariff) and February 2, 
1861 (respecting abolition of Stade dues). 

Hanseatic States. 
See Germany. 

Hawaii. 

1. Instructions, August 28, 1848-June 13, 1900 (2 vols.); earlier ma- 
terial, commencing March 15, 1843, is in "Special Missions" (volume 1). 

2. Despatches, May 31, 1843-February 28, 1900 (33 vols.). 

3. Notes from Department, January 15, 1850-June 29, 1898 (1 vol.); 



Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 15 

the earliest are in "Haiti" (volume 1), and in the unclassified series, 
December, 1842. 

If.. Notes to Department, April 8, 1845-December 81, 1885 (2 vols.). 

Holland. 

See Netherlands. 
Honduras. 

See Central America. 

Italy. 

1. Instructions, May 2, 1838, to date (4 vols.); see consular Instructions 
for material of diplomatic character as early as December 20, 1799; " Two 
Sicilies", May 18, 1838-May 27, 1861 (1 vol.); "Papal States", April 1, 
1848-May 22, 1868 (1 vol.). 

2. Despatches, June 6, 1840-November 30, 1903 (39 vols.); "Two 
Sicilies", November 7, 1831-June 24, 1845 (3 vols.); "Sardinia" (see 
below, Miscellaneous Volumes and Papers, no. 30), 1856-1860 (8 vols.); 
see also Sweden, Despatches (volume 5). 

3. Notes from Department, August 2, 1834, to date (5 vols.). 

4- Notes to Department, July 19, 1826-April 30, 1903 (19 vols.). 

Japan. 

1. Instructions, September 12, 1855, to date (5 vols.); early material, 
commencing August 28, 1832, is in "Special Missions" (volume 1). 

2. Despatches, March 17, 1855-June 30, 1904 (78 vols.). 
8. Notes from Department, April 4, 1871, to date (2 vols.). 

If. Notes to Department, May 22, 1858-September 30, 1900 (6 vols.). 

Korea. 

1. Instructions, March 2, 1883, to date (2 vols.); see also consular In- 
structions, June 27, 1868. 

2. Despatches, March 13, 1883-April 30, 1903 (19 vols.). 

3. Notes from Department, January 10, 1888, to date (1 vol.). 

If.. Notes to Department, unbound, commence January 10, 1888. 

Liberia. 

1. Instructions, March 16, 1863-September 17, 1870, with "Haiti", 
(volume 1); "Liberia", October 1, 1875, to date (1 vol.); early material, 
commencing July 31, 1849, is in " Special Missions " (volume 1). 

2. Despatches, December 31, 1863-December 31, 1903 (13 vols.). 
8. Notes from Department, August 25, 1862, to date (1 vol.). 

If.. Notes to Department, unbound, commence August 22, 1862. 

Luxemburg. 

1. Instructions, recorded with " Netherlands ", until November 17, 1905, 
when a separate volume was commenced. 



16 Department of State. 

2. Despatches, bound with "Netherlands", until 1905; separate de- 
spatches as yet unbound. 
Mexico. 

1. Instructions, commence with February 19, 1823, in unclassified series; 
continue in separate series from May 29, 1833, to date (12 vols.). 

2. Despatches, March 15, 1823-July 31, 1904 (170 vols.); a volume of 
duplicate despatches of Joel R. Poinsett contains material as early as April 
29, 1809. 

S. Notes from Department, commence in the unclassified series with 
December 10, 1822; continue in separate series from July 1, 1834, to date 
(«; vols.). 

J. Note* to Department, March 1, 1810-December 31, 1901 (47 vols.). 
Montenegro. 

1. Instructions, commence March 30, 1905, as " Montenegrin Series, No. 
1 ", in " Roumania " (volume 1); from July 20, 1905, they appear in 
"Greece" (volume 1) as "Montenegrin Series". 

x?. Despatches, combined with those of Roumania and Greece in the same 
in inner as instructions. 
Morocco. 

1. Instructions, commence March 8, 1905, and are copied in the volume 
of Instructions marked " Barbary States, 10 ". Instructions to Tangier, 
Tripoli, and Tunis, January 22, 1880— June 10, 188G, are in the same volume. 
Naples. 

See Italy; some Neapolitan documents appear in Sweden, Despatches 
(volume 5), and in the unclassified series of Instructions, commencing May 
10, 181G. 
Netherlands. 

1. Instructions, commence in the unclassified series, January 23, 1792, 
and continue in separate series from January 29, 1833, to date (3 vols.). 

2. Despatches, July 21, 1794-October 31, 1903 (39 vols.); there are 
also five volumes of duplicates. A volume of Spanish Despatches marked 
" W. Short, No. 1. The Hague and Spain, 1792-1795 " contains despatches 
of the Netherlands as early as August 1 5, 1 792 ; many others are bound in 
volumes of duplicates. 

S. Notes from Department, commence in the unclassified series, May 15, 
1789; separate series, July 1, 1834, to date (3 vols.). 

Jf. Notes to Department, August 17, 1799-December 31, 1899 (11 vols.). 
New Granada. 

See Colombia. 
Nicaragua. 

See Central America. 



Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 17 

North German Union. 

See Germany; two volumes of North German Confederation appear under 
France. 

Norway. 

See Sweden. 

1. Instructions, July 2, 1906, to date (1 vol.). 

2. Despatches, June 25, 1906, to date, unbound. 

8. Notes from Department, October 30, 1905, to date (1 vol.). 
If.. Notes to Department, November 3, 1905, to date, unbound. 

Panama. 

1. Instructions, December 12, 1903, to date (1 vol.). 

2. Despatches, December 14, 1903, to date, unbound. 

8. Notes from Department, November 12, 1903, to date (1 vol.). 
4- Notes to Department, November 7, 1903, to date, unbound. 

Papal States. 
See Italy. 

Paraguay and Uruguay. 

1. Instructions, "Paraguay", October 6, 1858-June 23, 1873 (1 vol.); 
"Paraguay and Uruguay", April 10, 1867, to date (2 vols.); early 
Paraguay material, June 10, 1845, is in "Special Missions" (volume 1); 
early Uruguay material, April 28, 1852, is in "Argentine Republic" (vol- 
ume 15). 

2. Despatches, "Paraguay and Uruguay", October 11, 1858— January 
31, 1903 (15 vols.). The first Uruguayan Despatch is of October 15, 
1867, in volume 3. 

3. Notes from Department, "Uruguay", July 7, 1834, to date (1 vol.), 
containing also Paraguayan Notes as early as December 20, 1856; "Para- 
guay", June 7, 1876, to date (1 vol.). 

4-. Notes to Department, commence in the two volumes of Notes to De- 
partment, " American States ", as early as June 3, 1834. The first volume 
of Paraguay Notes is numbered 3, March 12, 1853-December 12, 1869, 
and includes Uruguay Notes commencing September 30, 1853. For many 
other papers see, " Executives of American States " (Miscellaneous Vol- 
umes and Papers, no. 31). 

Persia. 

1. Instructions, commence in unclassified series, May 11, 1855; sepa- 
rate series, February 8, 1883, to date (1 vol.). 

2. Despatches, February 9, 1883-December 4, 1901 (10 vols.). 
8. Notes from Department, October 10, 1888, to date (1 vol.). 
4.. Notes to Department, October 10, 1888, to date, unbound. 

3 






18 Department of State. 

Peru. 

1. Instructions, commence in the unclassified series, September 29, 1817; 
separate series, May 29, 1833, to date (4 vols.). 

2. Despatches, M.inli 20, 182G-July 81, 1904 (64 vols.). In the volume 
of despatches under Argentine Republic marked " S. A. Mission " are 
found Peruvian papers as early as April 20, 1817. 

3. Notes from Department, December 18, 1840, to date (2 vols.). 

4. Notes to Department, February 14, 1840-December 31, 1903 (9 vols.). 
Portugal. 

/. Instructions, commence in the unclassified series, February 21, 1791; 
separata Beriea, April 18, 1833, to date (3 vols.). 

2. Despatches, July 81, 1790-December 31, 1902 (38 vols.); volumes 
1 and 2 include Spain and Portugal. There are also three volumes of 
duplicates. 

3. Notes from Department, commence in the unclassified series, October 
18, 1794; separate series, July 1, 1834, to date (2 vols.). 

4- Notes to Department, May 8, 1810-April 25, 1890 (7 vols.). 

In Russia, Notes (volume 1) are Portuguese Notes as early as 1805. 
Prussia. 

See Germany. 
Rome. 

See Italy. 
Boumania. 

J. Instructions, June 28, 1880, to date (1 vol.); see Greece, Instructions 
(volume 1) for instructions, July 5-8, 1882. 

2. Despatches, June 17, 1880-June 30, 1900 (3 vols.). 

3. Notes from Department, November 10, 1880, to date (1 vol.) ; no lega- 
tion at present. 

Jf. Notes to Department, November 15, 1880, to date, unbound. 
Roumania and Servia receive the same minister at present. 
Russia. 

1. Instructions, commence in the unclassified series, February 5, 1799; 
separate series, January 2, 1833, to date (6 vols.). 

2. Despatches, September 20, 1 808-December 31, 1902 (9 vols.); papers 
concerning Illinois and Wabash lands dating as early as August 20, 1779, 
were given to J. Q. Adams by the French ambassador in St. Petersburg and 
are included in the first volume of Russian Despatches. Two volumes of 
duplicates also contain Russian Despatches. 

3. Notes from Department, commence in the unclassified series, July 11, 
1809; separate series, July 1, 1834, to date (3 vols.). 

4. Notes to Department, August 31, 1808-December 31, 1903 (14 vols.); 



Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 19 

the first volume of Notes contains Danish papers as early as January 16, 
1801. 

Salvador. 

See Central America. 
Sandwich Islands. 

See Hawaii. 
Santo Domingo. 

See Dominican Republic. 
Sardinia. 

See Italy. 

Four interesting letters concerning Sardinia, May 19, 1825, October 13, 
1846, May 5, 1847, and September 12, 1860, are in " Other States, Notes " 
(volume 1). 

Servia. 

See Roumania and Greece. 
Siam. 

1. Instructions, August 1, 1882, to date (1 vol.); early material is in 
"Special Missions" (volume 1), January 3, 1832. 

2. Despatches, July 15, 1882-September 30, 1900 (7 vols.). 
S. Notes from Department, June 14, 1892, to date (1 vol.). 
Jf. Notes to Department, May 31, 1892, to date, unbound. 

Sicily. 

See Italy. 
Spain. 

1. Instructions, commence March 12, 1791, in the unclassified series; 
separate series, March 12, 1833, to date (10 vols.). 

2. Despatches, October 14, 1790-July 31, 1903 (140 vols.); volumes 1 
and 2 include Portugal; see also under Netherlands the volume marked 
"W. Short, No. 1. The Hague and Spain, 1792-1795 ". Ten volumes of 
bound duplicates contain Spanish despatches. 

S. Notes from Department, commence October 3, 1789, in the unclassified 
series; separate series, July 1, 1834, to date (7 vols.). 

4. Notes to Department, August 22, 1794-May 31, 1901 (41 vols.). 

Sweden (including Norway until 1905-1906). 

1. Instructions, commence in the unclassified series, March 17, 1798; 
separate series, May 31, 1834, to date (2 vols.). 

2. Despatches, August 21, 1812, to March 31, 1903 (26 vols.); two vol- 
umes of duplicates contain Swedish Despatches. 

3. Notes from Department, commence in the unclassified series, September 
23, 1813; separate series, July 1, 1834, to date (3 vols.). 

4- Notes to Department, March 25, 1793-December 31, 1899 (10 vols.). 



20 Department of State. 

Switzerland. 

1. Instructions, commence June 15, 1850, in "Special Missions" (volume 
1); separate series, March 21, 1853, to date (3 vols.). 

2. Despatches, April 12, 1853-June SO, 1903 (33 vols.). 

3. Notes from Department, September 23, 1882, to date (2 vols.). 

4. Notei to Department, September 10, 1882-July 31, 1901 (5 vols.); 
in "Other States, Notes" (volume 1), is a letter from the Swiss Federal 
Council, Berne, August 18, 1852, respecting the United States consulate 
at Zurich. 

Texas. 

1. Instructions, May 21, 1837-August 7, 1845 (1 vol.). 

2. Despatches, July 18, 1830-Octobcr 11, 1845 (2 vols.). 

3. Notes from Department, July 11, 1830-September 6, 1845 (1 vol.). 
4- Notes to Department, Mareli 2, 1830-November G, 1845 (1 vol.). 

For other Texan material see Miscellaneous Volumes and Papers, no. 
71 ; and Bureau of Rolls and Library, Miscellaneous Papers, no. 31. 
Turkey. 

1. htstructions, December 20, 1820, to date (8 vols.). 

2. Despatches, June 1, 1817-October 31, 1903 (74 vols.). 

3. Notes from Department, August 19, 18G7, to date (2 vols.). 

4- Notes to Department, August 18, 18G7-December 31, 1898 (8 vols.). 
Two Sicilies. 

See Italy. 
Venezuela. 

1. Instructions, March 18, 1835, to date (5 vols.). 

2. Despatches, March 24, 1835-June 30, 1903 (55 vols.). 

3. Notes from Department, July 7, 1834, to date (2 vols.). 

4- Notes to Department, February 24, 1835-March 81, 1896 (7 vols.). 

II. Consulab Archives. 

The consular archives are arranged in series corresponding to those in 
the diplomatic archives. As has already been indicated they contain much 
diplomatic material, especially in the early volumes, as well as material of 
the sort found in Domestic Letters and Miscellaneous Letters. There is 
no regular publication of material from the consular archives, although 
selections are frequently included in the congressional documents. Con- 
siderable consular material, especially Instructions, is in " Foreign Letters ", 
Bureau of Rolls and Library. 

1. Instructions, 1800-August 15, 1906 {about 200 vols.). 

The Instructions to United States Consuls from 1789 to 1800 are re- 
corded in the volumes of Domestic Letters, but since then have constituted 






Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 21 

a distinct series. Indexes: 1800-1833, index of names in each volume; 
1833-1870, index in 17 index-volumes; since 1870 in folio index-volumes; 
since 1878 a card-index has also been kept. 
2. Despatches, 1789-August 15, 1906 {about 8,000 vols.). 

There are no indexes to material earlier than 1825. Since then index- 
volumes have been kept, and for the despatches from 1874 to 1881 there 
is a card-index. 
S. Despatches from consular clerics (5 vols.). 

These are mainly of recent date. 
4> Notes from Department, 185S- August 15, 1906 (4- vols.). 

These notes to consuls of foreign states are at present filed in the series 
of Miscellaneous Volumes. 
5. Notes to Department, 1858-1900 (12 vols.). 

Notes from consuls of other states ; filed at present in the series of Miscel- 
laneous Volumes. The Notes from 1900 to August 15, 1906, when bound 
will constitute a thirteenth volume. 

III. Miscellaneous Archives. 

The miscellaneous archives of the Bureau of Indexes and Archives con- 
sist mainly of the correspondence of the Secretary of State, not diplomatic 
or consular in character, and of the miscellaneous papers, documents, and 
other material, outside of those in the Bureau of Rolls and Library, that 
have collected in the course of over a century. As to the two series of 
letters, domestic and miscellaneous, it should be noted that they contain 
much diplomatic and consular material; especially for the earlier years, 
so that the line of demarcation between them and the series in the diplomatic 
and consular archives is not as sharply drawn as would be expected. 

1. Domestic letters, 1789-1906 (1799-1802 missing) (289 vols.). 

The letters of most importance in this series are concerned with inter- 
national interests. Examples of the types mentioned in the preceding para- 
graph as being, for later years, filed with the diplomatic archives are found 
in letters to the British and French ministers, 1793-1795, regarding alleged 
violations of neutrality. In the later volumes, although correspondence on 
such matters as these is abundant, the letters are addressed to the governors 
of the several states and territories, to United States district attorneys and 
to the Secretaries of the War and Navy Departments. Illustrative letters 
are one to the governor of Georgia dealing with the importance of carrying 
out agreements with Spanish authorities for the return of fugitive slaves, 
a second to the governors of the several states stating that foreign war 
vessels are not to be allowed to maintain stations in American waters in 
order " to carry on hostile expeditions from thence ", and a third to Gov- 



22 Department of State. 

ernor Andrew Jackson asking a statement of the condition of affairs in 
the territory of Florida and the relations existing between Americans and 
Spaniards. Other and less noteworthy letters to governors contain requests 
for copies of state laws, give information as to rights of citizens under 
treaties, or, as in the ease of a letter to the governor of Texas, transmit 
an inquiry from a foreign minister as to the best method of obtaining cer- 
tain papers from a citizen of that state. Many letters are in answer to 
complaints against individual members of the diplomatic or consular service, 
and others are replies to similar complaints as to treatment received from 
officials of foreign governments. Perhaps the most important of all are the 
letters to heads of other departments of the government. Here are requests 
to the Attorney-General for legal interpretations, letters transmitting war- 
rants tor extradition, estimates of expenditures sent to the Secretary of the 
Treasury and, more noteworthy than cither, letters to the War and Navy 
Departments as to assistance needed in international relations. Important 
correspondence with the War Department relates to difficulties with Great 
Britain on the northern frontier, to trouble with Spain, Mexico, and the 
West Indies, and, in late years, to the government of the insular possessions. 
Questions arising in time of war are not the only ones considered. How far 
military officers may go in prescribing regulations to be observed by 
marauders on both sides of an international boundary, is an example of the 
questions arising during times of peace. The Navy Department is very 
closely associated with the Department of State in fulfilling international 
obligations and these volumes show the intimacy of the relationship. Re- 
quests for war vessels to protect American interests abroad or to show honor 
to foreign governments are scattered throughout the entire collection. Al- 
most equal in number are letters asking, or, in the name of the President, 
directing the employment of vessels for executing such obligations as the 
suppression of the slave trade and opium traffic, for guarding of the rights 
of neutrals, and for police service in American or Asiatic waters. The 
missing volumes of this series are for the years 1799-1802 and are sup- 
posed to have been lost during the war of 1812. The whole series is made 
up of letters more or less confidential in character although some of them 
have been published in congressional reports. Many letters prior to 1870, 
which relate to consular matters, are in the books of consular Instructions 
{see II, 1, above). 

Indexes: (a) Each volume prior to 1870 contains an index of names of 
persons addressed; (6) there are folio index-books for the letters from May 
1, 1802 to January 14, 1811, and from January 1, 1840 to 1906, which 
since 1870 contain also indexes to the " Report Books " (see no. 3, below) 
while the index from June 1, 1870, to December 31, 1873, has been printed; 
(c) many letters from the department prior to 1870 pertaining to consular 



Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 23 

matters are indexed by consulates in the volumes of indexes to consular 
Instructions (see II, 1, above); (d) 1874-1881, card-index. 

2. Miscellaneous letters, 1789-1906 {over 1,100 vols.). 

The bound volumes of letters received constituting this series are com- 
panion records to the volumes of letter-books composing the preceding 
series. As already indicated, much diplomatic and consular material is 
found in the earlier volumes. Among the subjects treated in this series are 
complaints to the department of treatment received by American merchants 
or merchantmen in foreign countries, requests for information as to foreign 
customs and laws, and inquiries from other departments as to the provisions 
of treaties with various countries and the interpretation to be given to cer- 
tain clauses of those treaties. Inquiries of this character come most fre- 
quently from the Treasury Department and relate to the execution of 
customs laws. As is to be expected many letters and resolutions from 
individuals and public assemblies were received between 1840 and 1850 
stating the views held by their authors as to the national policy in the 
Mexican troubles and the Oregon boundary disputes. Closely allied is the 
correspondence regarding the assumption by the United States of the inter- 
national obligations of Texas at the time of its annexation and the settle- 
ment of boundary claims between the new state and its neighbors. Many 
resolutions of Congress calling upon the President for information as to 
foreign and domestic complications are to be found in these records although 
the information given in reply must be sought elsewhere. Illustrations are 
found in Senate resolutions as to the condition of Americans in South Amer- 
ican states, and in House resolutions as to conditions in Utah (1857). An- 
other important field touched by this series is illustrated in an opinion of 
Attorney-General Butler given to the Secretary of State as to the position 
of the national government regarding redress claimed by the French charge 
d'affaires for ill-treatment accorded his countrymen within the state of 
Louisiana (1837). Another opinion bearing on state and national jurisdic- 
tion was given in reply to a question from the Department of State as to 
whether or not a charter issued by the state of South Carolina infringed 
upon a treaty existing between the United States and a foreign power. 
Less important letters are those from various libraries asking for or acknowl- 
edging the receipt of books or manuscripts, from authors and travellers 
asking letters to United States consuls abroad, from individuals requesting 
information as to relatives or friends lost sight of by reason of a voyage 
across the Atlantic, and from congressmen enclosing requests from their 
constituents. Finally it should be noted that many letters pertaining to 
consular matters prior to 1870 are bound with the despatches from the 
consulates to which they relate. These letters are indexed throughout by 
various methods for different periods. A " Calendar of the Miscellaneous 



24 Department of State. 

Letters received by the Department of State from the Organization of the 
Government to 1820 " (Washington, 1807) has been printed but is regarded 
as confidential: it has been continued on cards through 1824. 

3. Report books, 1790-1906 (1796-1817 missing) (21 vols.). 

Letters to the Senate and House, messages from the President to Con- 
gress on matters pertaining to the Department of State, and letters to con- 
gressional committees arc lure found. There is no record of reports from 
1T!m; to 1817 although some appear to be included in the series of Domestic 
Letters above. Many of the reports are printed in congressional docu- 
ments. Each volume prior to 1870 contains an index, but the indexes since 
1870 are in the folio index-books for Domestic Letters. 
{. Miscellaneous Volumes and Papers (SIS vols, and 220 packages). 

Two entirely separate series are included under this heading; they con- 
sist mainly of what may be spoken of as the " odds and ends " of the 
archives of the bureau; they are at present grouped as Miscellaneous Vol- 
umes and Miscellaneous Papers, the only distinction between the two series 
being that in the former the documents are bound in volumes, whereas in 
the latter they are collected in bundles. It thus frequently results that 
documents relating to the same subject are found in both series, as for ex- 
ample, in the case of the Behring Sea arbitration papers, some of which, 
being in bundles, are included among the Miscellaneous Papers, while others, 
that happen to be bound, are placed with the Miscellaneous Volumes. It 
has been thought best to ignore, in the following account, the artificial dis- 
tinction thus made. To avoid, however, any difficulty in locating the ma- 
terial described references to the printed " Inventory of the Archives in the 
Bureau of Indexes and Archives ", mentioned above, are incorporated in the 
various descriptions. Thus "(V. 5)" attached to any of the items below 
indicates that that item is printed in the " Inventory " as no. 5 in the list 
of Miscellaneous Volumes, while "(P. 10)" refers to no. 10 in the list of 
Miscellaneous Papers. It has been found convenient to group the docu- 
ments under two principal headings, (1) domestic and departmental affairs, 
and (2) international relations. A third group consisting of unimportant 
material, such as fragmentary indexes, memorandum-books, reports of 
bureau-officers, old translations, drafts of letters, and printed documents 
might have been added, but such material is of no value except for depart- 
mental purposes, and it has not seemed warrantable to extend the list so 
as to include it. It will be noted that many of the documents listed below 
are of the same character as certain classes of documents in the Bureau of 
Rolls and Library, notably ceremonial letters and arbitration papers, while 
other documents might more properly be included in the diplomatic or con- 
sular archives. 



Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 25 

I. Domestic and Departmental Affairs. 

(1) Letters from the executive departments, 1798-1818 (1 package) (P. 

6f). 

(2) Letter-books, 1821-1829 (4 vols.) (J. Ifi). 

Similar in content to the series of Domestic Letters described above 
(p. 21). 

(3) Unofficial letter-book of Henry Clay, 1825-1829 (1 vol.) (V. 13). 

(4) Private letters prior to 1825 (1 package) (P. 58). 

These are personal rather than officially confidential letters. They relate 
in many instances to official matters, however. 

(5) Miscellaneous letters, 1821-1877 (31 packages) (P. 68, 56, 56). 

The greater part of these letters antedates 1835. Some miscellaneous 
papers are included with them. 

(6) Drafts of letters, 1853-1854, 1857-1858 (2 vols.) (V. 2S). 
Similar in character to the series of Domestic Letters. 

(7) Circulars, August, 1802-March, 1904 (5 vols.) (V. 10). 
Printed. 

(8) Washington's birth-place (1 package) (P. 80). 

Papers relating to the erection of a monument to George Washington at 
Wakefield, Virginia. 

(9) Federal judiciary in Rhode Island, 1789-1790 (1 package) (P. 65). 
Papers relating to the position of United States judges, marshals, and 

attorneys in Rhode Island prior to that state's adoption of the federal con- 
stitution in May, 1790. 

(10) Accounts between the United States and individual states, 1791 (1 

package) (P. 1). 
The papers are those of the commissioners for the adjustment of accounts 
and refer in the main to Virginia's claim on account of the services of George 
Rogers Clark in the Illinois country. Among these papers are the report 
of John Pierce, dated New York, April 1, 1788 (125 pp.), with transcripts 
of testimony, instructions, etc., from January 20, 1783; letters of G. R. 
Clark, Benjamin Harrison, Beverly Randolph, John Todd, David Shepherd, 
and others ; a transcript of proceedings in the Virginia House of Delegates, 
January 7, 1788, with committee report and accompanying papers. 

(11) Distressed emigrants from San Domingo, 1794 (1 package) (P. lf.lt). 

(12) Maryland chancery papers prior to 1800 (1 package) (P. 16). 

(13) Maryland holdings in Bank of England stock, 1803-1805 (1 package) 

(P. 59). 

(14) Intercepted letters, War of 1812 (1 package) (P. 51). 

(15) Florida, 1834 (1 package) (P. 45). 

Correspondence of W. F. Steele, United States district attorney in Florida. 

(16) Consular fees, 1838-1865 (2 vols.) {V. 28). 



26 Department of State. 

Record of fees received at United States consulates, serving as a basis 
for determining consular salaries. 

(17) Claim of H. Gold Rogers against the United States, 1843-1845 (1 

package) (P. 26). 

(18) Consular system of United States, 1804 (1 package) (P. 85). 
Report on the consular system by John Bigelow, consul at Paris. 

(19) Civil War, 1861-1865 (19 vols, and 72 packages) (P. 18). 

The papers relating to the Civil War are the most numerous of any in 
this series. Special attention may be called to the following groups among 
them: (<i) those dealing with the "Alabama" the "Florida", and various 
Other captured vessels, and the taking of the Confederate envoys Mason and 
Slidell from the "Trent"; (b) an alphabetical list of arrests by national 
officials in 1SU], arrests for treason or disloyalty, and certain lists of 
prisoners, other than prisoners of war, arrested at various times, 1801-1805; 
(c) papers relating to various drafts throughout the United States, and espe- 
eiilly. I.i packages of papers, alphabetically arranged, relating to drafted 
aliens el aiming protection from other governments; (d) intercepted letters 
and letters from the Confederate Navy Department to the commandant of 
the Norfolk yard; (e) letters of William H. Seward and Gideon Welles; 
(/") copies and drafts of both secret and official letters from the department, 
ls<;l-18GS, with indexes to secret correspondence of these and other years; 
(g) manv packages of papers of private individuals which were seized at 
various times during the war and including some from secret societies 
favorable to the southern cause; (h) various letters of condolence on the 
assassination and death of President Lincoln; (i) a mass of miscellaneous 
letters which it is difficult to classify under any of the preceding divisions 
(cf. Bureau of Rolls and Library, Miscellaneous Papers, no. 30). 

(20) Ocean cables, 1809-1871 (1 package) (P. 12). 
Reports and memoranda. 

(21) Electoral commission, 1877 (2 vols.) (V. 24). 
Journal, minutes, and miscellaneous papers. 

II. International Relations. 
Ceremonial letters. 

(Cf. Bureau of Rolls and Library, Regular Series, no. 7). 

(22) Communications to foreign sovereigns and states, 1829-1877 (4 vols.) 

(V. 31). 

(23) Ceremonial letters from foreign sovereigns and states (5 vols, and 4 

packages) {V. 69, P. 15). 

(24) Assassination of President Lincoln, 1805 (2 vols.) {V. 6). 

Letters of sympathy from Switzerland (cf. Bureau of Rolls and Library, 
Miscellaneous Papers, no. 40). 



Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 27 

(25) Assassination of President Garfield, 1881 (1 package) (P. 48). 
Resolutions of condolence. 

(26) Columbian quater-centenary, 1892 (1 package) (P. 3). 
Congratulatory telegrams on the four-hundredth anniversary of the dis- 
covery of America. 

(27) Death of Secretary of State Walter Q. Gresham, 1895 (1 package) 

(P. 83). 
Letters of condolence. 
Diplomatic and consular correspondence, etc. 

(28) Diplomatic notes, 1783-1876 (2 packages) (P. lf.1, Jf.2). 

The first of these packages (P. J^.1) contains abstracts of the following 
series of Notes to the Department: Austria, November 8, 1820— May 13, 
1870; Belgium, January 3, 1832-May 24, 1870; Brazil, April 5, 1824- 
May 10, 1870; Bolivia, June 25, 1868-October 11, 1876; Chili, February 
15, 1828-December 1, 1869; Colombia, April 8, 1820-May 27, 1870; Den- 
mark, November 14, 1812-July 9, 1862. The second package (P. J$) 
labelled " Diplomatic notes, old- France " contains important material, some 
of which is not to be found elsewhere; it consists of the following groups 
of Notes to the Department, abstracts, and other papers: New Granda, 
Guatemala, Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica, and Venezuela, commencing 
November 9, 1856; Nicaragua, November 6, 1849-July 2, 1852; Honduras, 
February 7, 1856; Nuevo Leon, Monterey, Mexico, December 27, 1851; 
Salvador, December 25, 1847; Sweden, November 8, 1814, and February 25, 
1815; Netherlands, September 17, 1784-May 3, 1796; France, miscel- 
laneous material including a number of Notes, July 21, 1783— September 
28, 1816; Spain, August 19, 1797-December 8, 1813; Denmark, February 
19, 1812-August 1, 1814; Russia, April 25, 1813-June 25, 1814. 

(29) Diplomatic despatches (5 packages) (P. 38, 39, JfO). 

These contain fragmentary indexes and other miscellaneous material, all 
apparently of no value. 

(30) Diplomatic despatches, Sardinia, 1856-1860 (8 vols.) {V. 22). 
Transcripts of diplomatic correspondence with J. M. Daniel, United 

States minister to Sardinia (see above, Analysis of Diplomatic Archives, 
Italy). 

(31) Executives of American States, 1822-1859 (3 vols.) (V. 25). 
These volumes contain Notes to the Department and communications from 

executives from the following states, commencing in each case with the 
dates indicated: Central America, commencing March 13, 1824; Colombia, 
September 1, 1822; Costa Rica, September 15, 1845; Buenos Ayres, January 
5, 1824; Brazil, January 17, 1827; Bolivia, March 16, 1837; Chili, August 
8, 1827; Ecuador, August 2, 1837; Guatemala, July 18, 1829; Honduras, 
April 5, 1854; Mexico, September 25, 1822; Peru, June 21, 1827; Texas, 



28 Deportment of State. 

May 12, 1837; .V< w Zealand, September 7, 1837; Venezuela, September 2, 

1812; Hawaii, July 1, 1843; Uruguay, April 3, 1856; Paraguay, November 

7, 1853; Nicaragua, September 24, 1844; Salvador, September 3, 1833; 

Sanlo Domingo, December 5, 1844; Yucatan, December 28, 184G; Friendly 

Islands, April 10, 1856. 

(32) Credences, October 9, 1789, to date (8 vols.) (F. 15). 

(S3) Credentials, powers, and recalls, 1807-1870 (1 vol.) {V. 16). 

(34) Consular despatches (3 packages) (P. 34). 

(35) Letters from foreign consuls (5 packages) (P. 46) . 

These relate mainly to the individual interests of citizens of other states. 
In general the material is quite unimportant, but would seem to belong 
among the consular Notes to the Department. 
Special agents and missions. 
(30) Special missions, 1823 to date (4 vols.) (V. 69). 

Reports, notes, and other papers connected with special missions. 

(37) Special missions, precedents (1 package) (P. 71). 

(38) Special agents of the United States (7 packages) (P. 70). 
Lists of agents together with despatches from them. 

(39) Special agents of the United States, 1807-1889 (2 vols.) (V. 59). 

(40) Special agents of other states (1 package) (P. 69) . 
Notes and miscellaneous papers. 

(41) Secret service, 1849-1802 (1 vol.) (V. 60). 

Similar in character but of less importance than the papers of special 
agents. 

(42) Special service, 1854-1801 (1 vol.) (V. 61). 

Notes respecting the services of William Carey Jones, 1857-1800, and 
William L. Cazneau, 1854-1801. 

(43) Buenos Ayres, Chili, Peru, 1817-1820 (1 vol.) {V. 70). 
Letters from W. G. D. Worthington, United States special agent. 

(41) Germany, 1840-1852 (1 vol.) {V. 57). 

Letters from A. Dudley Mann, United States special agent. 

Arbitrations. 

(Cf. below, Bureau of Rolls and Library, Regular Series, no. 6.) 
(45) Case of the brig "General Armstrong" (1 vol.) {V. 31). 

This relates to the claim of Samuel C. Reid, supported by the United 
States, against Portugal for allowing the " General Armstrong " to be 
attacked in the harbor of Fayal by British vessels in September 20—27, 
1814. The arbitration was by Napoleon III. See Reid's "Report of 
the Case of the Private-Armed Brig of War General Armstrong before the 
United States Court of Claims " (New York, 1857), and Moore, " Inter- 
national Arbitrations", 1071-1132. 
(40) Chincha Island affair (1 vol.) (V. 12). 



Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 29 

Report, August 9, 1858, by J. S. Mackie, arbitrator of the claims against 
Peru arising out of the Chincha Island affair of August 17, 1853. Moore, 
1593-1614. 

(47) Geneva arbitration, Alabama claims, 1871-1872 (11 vols.) (V. 1, 5). 
Letters from J. C. Bancroft Davis, extracts from London newspapers, 

and index. 

(48) Bulama arbitration, Great Britain and Portugal, 1869 (1 vol.) (V. 

3). Moore, 1909-1922. 

(49) Berlin arbitration, Northwest boundary, 1871-1872 (1 vol.) (V. Jfl). 

Moore, 196-236. 
Copies of papers used in preparing the case of the United States against 
Great Britain. 

(50) Costa Rica and Nicaragua, 1887-1888 (4 vols.) (V. 5). 

Papers relating to the arbitration by the President of the United States. 
Moore, 1945-1968. 

(51) Behring Sea arbitration, 1893 (1 vol. and 4 packages) (V. 7, P. 71i). 
A volume of despatches from John W. Foster (see S. Ex. Doc. 177, 53 

Cong., 2 sess.), and (in the packages) depositions of native hunters, dupli- 
cate affidavits, register, index, note-books, correspondence, and miscellaneous 
papers. 
Congresses and expositions. 

(52) Statistical congresses at the Hague, Berlin, and elsewhere, 1863, 

1869, etc. (1 package) (P. 78). 

(53) Monetary conference, Paris, 1881 (1 vol. and 1 package) (V. J^Jf, 

P. 61). 
The volume contains a report on the conference by S. Dana Horton, who 
had been secretary of the delegation from the United States to the con- 
ference of 1878. 

(54) Sanitary conference, 1882 (1 package) (P. 67). 

(55) Paris exposition, 1867 (2 vols.) (V. 51). 

Letters of the Department of State, and receipts for medals. 

(56) Vienna exposition, 1872-1873 (5 vols.) (V. 66, 67, 68). 

Letters to United States commissioners, report of commission, and papers 
of the special commission in the case of General T. B. Van Buren (cf. 
Bureau of Rolls and Library, Miscellaneous Papers, no. 43). 

(57) Sydney exhibition, 1879 (1 package) (P. 5). 
Receipts for awards. 

(58) Melbourne exposition, 1888 (1 package) (P. J£). 
Receipts for awards. 

Miscellaneous. 

(59) Treaties (cf. Bureau of Rolls and Library, Regular Series, no. 3). 
(a) Indexes and notes (1 vol.) (V. 64). 



30 Deportment of State. 

(b) Drafts of treaties (3 packages) (P. 43). 

(c) Memorandum-books kept by Daniel Brent, 1 795-1 80G (1 package) 

(P. 79). 
(60) Claims against foreign states. 

These include one volume (V. 71) of the papers of Samuel Bayard, 1794- 
179", agent for the prosecution of United States claims before the British 
admiralty courts; one volume (V. 11) of reports by H. D. Johnson on claims 
against foreign governments, 1854—1855; a package of old spoliation papers 
(P. 72); and !) packages relating to various claims as follows: Carlos 
Butterfield against Denmark (P. 19) ; Central American Transit Company 
against Nicaragua (P. 20); Samuel Huggins against Brazil (P. 21); 
Kindineco Bros, against Egypt (P. 22) ; La Abra Silver Mining Company 
and Benjamin Weil against Mexico (P. 28); A. H. Lazare and Antonio 
Pelletier against Hayti (P. 24) ; B. W. Perkins against Russia (P. 25); 
various claims against Chili, the papers in regard to which were taken from 
the files for the Chilean Claims Commission of 1894 but not docketed by the 
commission (P. 27) ; a tabular statement of claims against the Hawaiian 
government in 1847 (P. 28). See Moore, o. c. 

(Gl) Counsel in suits against parties in foreign countries (1 package) 
(P. 36). 

(62) Cipher codes, old (1 package) (P. 17). 

(63) Custom-house papers (1 package) (P. 37). 

These papers relate in the main to relations with France, Spain, and 
Turkey and are all of early date. 

(64) France. 

One volume of papers bearing on negotiations with France in 1795 (P. 
32), and a package of papers relating to commercial intercourse, reciprocity, 
etc. (P. 47). 

(65) Impressment of seamen (1 vol.) (P. 34). 

This volume contains a general review of negotiations between Great 
Britain and the United States respecting the impressment of Americans for 
service upon British vessels. It serves as a synopsis of the original negotia- 
tions (cf. Bureau of Rolls and Library, Miscellaneous Papers, nos. 16, 17). 

(66) Commissioners to Ghent, 1813-1816 (1 package) (P. 32). 
Miscellaneous papers bearing on the work of the American commissioners. 

(67) Canadian fisheries. 

One volume of letters, documents, and other papers of R. D. Cutts, E. H. 
Derby, and others, 1816-1869 (V. 8) and 2 packages of protocols of the 
conference at Washington in 1887, together with material, mainly printed, 
antecedent to the treaty of 1871 (P. 13). 

(68) Orinoco River exploration, 1819 (1 vol.) (V. 39). 

Journal kept on board the U. S. S. " Nonsuch " on a voyage up the 



Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 31 

Orinoco river to Angostura in 1819. Interesting details are given as to 
conditions in the river valley. 

(69) Panama congress, 1825-1827 (1 package) (P. 63). 

(70) Northeastern boundary, 1828-1829 (1 vol.) (V. 4.6). 
Instructions to Albert Gallatin, United States minister to Great Britain, 

respecting questions arising in the discussion over the northeastern boundary 
of the United States. 

(71) Republic of Texas. 

One package of the archives of the United States legation in Texas (P. 
76), and a record book belonging to the United States consulate at Galveston 
{V. 83) (cf. above, Analysis of Diplomatic Archives, Texas; and below, 
Bureau of Rolls and Library, Miscellaneous Papers, no. 31). 

(72) Consulates in China. 

A report in one volume by J. Balistier, 1851, on the importance of estab- 
lishing consulates in China (V. 9), and a similar report, 1870-1873, by 
Treasury agent DeB. Randolph Keim, in 2 volumes (V. 72). 

(73) Bombardment of Greytown, Nicaragua, by the U. S. S. " Cyane ", 

1854 (1 package) (P. 8). 

(74) Santo Domingo, 1859-1871. 

One volume of reports, 1859—1871, relating to the movement for annexa- 
tion (V. 55) ; two packages of negotiations, 1859-1871, relative to securing 
a coaling station in the Bay of Samana (P. 29, 30) ; and a volume of the 
journal of the commission sent by Grant to Santo Domingo in 1871 (V. 5J£). 

(75) Slave trade, mixed courts on the coast of Africa, 1862-1870 (1 pack- 

age) (P. 68). 
These papers throw some light on the work of the tribunals at Sierra 
Leone and the Cape of Good Hope, established under the treaty of 1862 
with Great Britain. 

(76) Alaska purchase, 1866-1867 (1 package) (P. 2). 

(77) St. Thomas, contemplated purchase, 1867 (1 package) (P. 7J/.). 

(78) Canada, annexation, reciprocity, etc., 1867-1869 (1 package) (P. 9) 

(cf. Bureau of Rolls and Library, Miscellaneous Papers, no. 35). 

(79) Tehuantepec Isthmus, 1869 (1 package) (P. 76). 

Documents received from Simon Stevens relating to the convention for 
right of way across the isthmus. 

(80) Extradition. 

One volume of papers relating to extradition cases prior to 1877 (V. 26), 
and a volume of miscellaneous papers and notes bearing on extradition agree- 
ments, 1870-1874, between the United States and Great Britain (V. 27). 

(81) Treaty of Washington, 1871 (1 vol.) (V. 65). 

In addition to the text of the treaty this volume contains many papers 
relating to its provisions, notes made by officials, etc. 

(82) Samoa. 



32 Department of State. 

A report in one volume by special agent A. B. Steinburger on Samoan 
conditions in 1872-1874 (P. 5S) and a package and a volume relating to 
the Samoan conference at Berlin in 1880 (P. 66, V. 53). 

(83) Isthmus of Panama, 1875 (2 vols.) (P. 38). 

Report of commission on conditions at the isthmus. In this report are 
considered the methods of government, social life and industries in Panama, 
as also the policy of the United States toward that country. 

(84) Ship canals (1 package) (P. 1J,). 

Memoranda and notes regarding ship canals proposed at Panama, 
N ii.iragua, etc. 

(85) Reciprocity negotiations, 1884, 1891-1892 (1 package) (P. 6Jf). 
The earlier papers relate to the British West Indies. 

(80) American Congress, 1889-1890 (2 vols.) (V. 2). 

Minutes and other papers of the congress with Mexico and countries of 
Central and South America held to consider questions of international trade, 
reciprocity, etc. 

(87) Mrs. Maybrick, imprisonment of, 1889-1904 (1 package) (P. 50). 
Papers relating to the imprisonment of Mrs. Maybrick in England. The 

papers are mainly memorials praying for an investigation into the causes of 
the imprisonment or requesting that steps be taken to secure the release 
of the prisoner. 

(88) Fiji land claims, 1893 (4 vols.) (P. 29). 

Report of special agent, G. H. Scidmore, regarding claims in the Fiji 
Islands, July, 1893. This report is of interest to students of conditions 
in the islands at the time of the revolt against British authority. 

(89) Hawaiian papers, 1893 (3 packages) (P. Jf9). 

One package contains the printed report of Commissioner James H. 
Blount, with affidavits, letters, etc.; the second has letters, petitions, etc., to 
Mr. Blount; and the third is composed of newspapers giving information 
as to conditions in Hawaii. 

(90) Mosquito territory, Nicaragua, 1894. 

A volume (V. Jf5) containing a memorial of facts and evidence, and a 
package (P. 62) of miscellaneous papers. 

(91) Armenian massacres (1 package) (P. 82). 
Letters and resolutions of protest. 



BUREAU OF ROLLS AND LIBRARY. 

The Bureau of Rolls and Library promulgates the laws and treaties of 
the United States and the proclamations of the President, is the custodian 
of those laws, treaties, and proclamations, and also of the various classes 



Bureau of Rolls and Library. 33 

of documents described below, and maintains and superintends the library 
of the Department of State. The duties of the bureau are set forth in 
Michael's " History of the Department of State " (p. 60 ff.), but much of 
that account, especially such part as relates to the archives of the bureau, 
is no longer pertinent because of the transfers of documents from the 
bureau to the Library of Congress. The same is true of the other descrip- 
tive accounts of the archives of the bureau: viz., " The Historical Archives 
of the Department of State ", by A. H. Allen, in the Annual Report of the 
American Historical Association for 1894 (pp. 281-298) ; " What the United 
States Government Has Done for History ", by A. H. Clark, in the same 
volume (pp. 549-561); Sen. Ex. Doc. 22, 53 Cong., 3 sess. (largely re- 
printed in Michael), and the " Bulletins of the Bureau of Rolls and 
Library" (nos. 1-11, State Department, 1893-1905). 

The archives of the bureau consist of the Declaration of Independence, 
the laws, treaties, proclamations, executive orders and announcements, the 
proceedings of international commissions, documents relating to the Con- 
stitution, territorial papers, and a large body of miscellaneous material. 
Within the last few years several of the most valuable collections in the 
bureau have been removed. In 1903—1904 by executive order the Conti- 
nental Congress, Washington, Madison, Jefferson, Hamilton, Monroe, and 
Franklin Papers were transferred to the Library of Congress, with the excep- 
tion of such papers, amounting to over a hundred volumes, mainly of the 
Continental Congress and Franklin papers, as bore upon foreign relations 
or upon the Constitution of the United States in such a way as to be " re- 
quired for the continuity and completeness of the records and archives of 
the Department of State ". Again, in 1906, an executive order provided 
for the transfer to the Library of Congress of thirteen groups of documents, 
described below among the collections of the Library. About the same time 
a large collection of papers relating to the War of 1812 was transferred to 
the Navy Department, and a considerable group of documents belonging to 
the state archives of North Carolina, which had long been in the bureau, 
was returned to North Carolina. The remaining material, however, is of 
much value; of that which is in the main unprinted, the territorial papers 
are perhaps the most interesting. 

The library of the Department of State is especially rich in works on 
foreign relations and international law. It published periodically for some 
years "A List of Books, Pamphlets, and Maps Received" (1886-1905). 

I. Regular Seeies of Documents. 

1. Papers relating to the Constitution. 

The journal of the Federal Convention and all papers relating to it or 
forming part of its archives, together with other papers relating to the 
4 



34 Department of State. 

Constitution and its amendments, such as Madison's original journal, rati- 
fic ations by the states, etc., are preserved here. They have been printed in 
the " Documentary History of the Constitution of the United States, 1787- 
1870 " (Washington, Department of State, 1894-1905, 5 vols.). 

2. Acts and resolutions of Congress, 1789 to date. 

3. Treaties with other states, 1778 to date. 

All treaties between the United States and foreign states are promulgated 
by this bureau, and the originals preserved here; see Haswell's "Treaties 
and Conventions — 1770-1889" (S. Ex. Doc. 47, 48 Cong., 2 sess.), and 
" Compilation of Treaties in Force ", 1904 (S. Doc. 318, 58 Cong., 2 sess.). 
See also above, Bureau of Indexes and Archives, Miscellaneous Volumes 
and Papers, no. 59. 

J f . Treaties n-ith Indian tribes, 1722-1868. 

No treaties have been concluded with Indian tribes since 1871 (1G Stat. 
L. 50t;). While there are in this bureau a large number of treaties, both 
prior to and later than 1789, it cannot be said that the series is complete. 
Many treaties since 1849 have been filed in the Department of the Interior 
(see " Indian Affairs, Laws and Treaties ", in two volumes, compiled by 
C. J. Kappler and published as S. Doc. 319, 58 Cong., 2 sess.). 

5. Presidential proclamations, executive orders and announcements, 1789 

to date. 

6. Records of commissions for the settlement of international disputes. 

The records of international commissions consist of minutes of proceedings, 
dockets, arguments, opinions, registers, awards, etc. There are also the 
papers relating to the claims or other matters before the commissions, con- 
taining in large part the material that serves as evidence. It should be 
noted that there are many records and papers of this class in the Bureau 
of Indexes and Archives (cf. Bureau of Indexes and Archives, Miscel- 
laneous Volumes and Papers, nos. 45—51) and that in some cases certain 
papers have been transferred to the Court of Claims. Much of this ma- 
terial has been printed in the Congressional documents (see the various 
document-catalogues and indexes under the names of the different commis- 
sions) and exhaustive use of it was made by J. B. Moore in his " Inter- 
national Arbitrations ", which serves as a digest. 

7. Letters of ceremony. 

These are addressed to the government of the United States on extra- 
ordinary occasions, by the heads and governments of foreign states. 
Napoleon's announcement of his return from Elba serves to illustrate this 
class of material. Deaths, births, abdications, changes of government, etc., 
are in the main the subjects of these letters. Letters of the same sort are 



Bureau of Rolls and Library. 35 

also to be found in the Bureau of Indexes and Archives (cf. Bureau of 
Indexes and Archives, Miscellaneous Volumes and Papers, nos. 22—27). 

II. Territorial Papers. 

Until 1873 the correspondence with the territorial governments was 
carried on by the Department of State. Governors of territories ordinarily 
transmitted copies of their own proceedings, as well as of the proceedings 
of the legislatures, to the Secretary of State. A great many miscellaneous 
papers were also transmitted, so that there has come to be a large body of 
this class of material. It is in general of considerable value, and frequently 
supplies documents not to be found in the archives of the states that were 
formerly territories. The territorial papers since 1873 are in the Depart- 
ment of the Interior (cf. below, p. 202). Until 1905 the greater part of the 
territorial papers were in the Bureau of Indexes and Archives, but were 
transferred in that year to the Bureau of Rolls and Library. Even now 
however there is in the form of letters from governors and other territorial 
officers considerable territorial material in the Bureau of Indexes and 
Archives, particularly in the series of Miscellaneous and Domestic Letters. 
The territorial papers are at present rather roughly arranged in about sixty 
volumes and bundles (exclusive of the records of Alaska), each one labelled 
according to its contents. Some of the volumes contain the papers of several 
territories and for this reason, and also because the arrangement of the 
papers is frequently very irregular, it is more convenient to describe the 
papers of each territory separately, indicating the various bundles or 
volumes in which they are found. 

Alabama. 

(a) 1817-1819 (1 envelope). 

These papers consist of a few letters, some legislative papers, and a 
census of Alabama territory taken in 1818, which gives the different classes 
of population in each county. 

Alaska. 

(a) Despatches and correspondence of the board of directors of the 
Russian- American Company, 1802, 1817-1866 (25 vols.). 

(6) Journals of correspondence between the governors of the colonies and 
the board of directors of the Russian-American Company and other persons, 
1818-1867 (34 vols.). 

(c) Log-books kept on fifteen of the Company's ships on their voyages 
in the colonies, 1850-1867 (16 vols.). 

(d) Journals of explorations of the northwest coast of Kadiak, by Cap- 
tain Archimandritoff, 1860-1864 (1 vol.). 

(e) Journal of an overland expedition of Lieutenant Fagoskin, 1842— 
1844 (1 vol.). 



36 Department of State. 

These volumes are entirely in Russian. They were delivered to the 
United States by the Russian authorities at the time of the cession of Alaska, 
and were transferred from the War Department, to which they had been 
forwarded by the commander of the department of Alaska, to the State 
Department on December 6, 1870. A few translations and facsimiles of 
these documents arc published in S. Ex. Doc. 177, 53 Cong., 2 sess. (pt. 8, 
pp. 305-378; pt. 1G). 

Arizona. 

(a) April I, 1864-Dceember 4, 1872 (first part of volume labelled 

Arizona "). 

The executive proceedings cover the period from the organization of the 
territory to December 31, 1867. There are also printed messages from the 
governor, newspaper clippings, and correspondence with the delegates in 
Congress mil with the Department of State. 

Arkansas. 

(a) 1819-1821 (1 envelope). 

Laws passed by the legislative assembly, 1819-1821, lists of officers, and 
Letters from Robert Crittenden to J. Q. Adams. 

California. 

(a) 181C, (1 envelope). 

A letter from R. F. Stockton to Buchanan of August 21, 1840, relates to 
tlie Sandwich Islands. There are also found the proclamation to the 
people of California of August 17, 1846, the proclamation of the blockade, 
August 19, 1846, and the proclamation establishing civil government in 
California. 

Colorado. 

(a) 1859, 1860, 1864-1872, 1874 (nearly half of the volume labelled 
" Territories of Minn., Neb., Ore., Wym., . . . "). 

(o) 1860-1808 (1 bundle). 

Among these papers are two letters (6) from G. M. Willing to Lewis 
Cass (December 28, 1859, June 11, 1860) representing himself as the 
legally elected delegate from Jefferson Territory, and urging the prompt 
establishment of territorial government. There are also (a) the executive 
proceedings from the organization of the territory to December 1, 1861, 
a package of legislative papers, and a package of general correspondence, 
as well as (b) annual messages, proclamations, correspondence respecting 
leaves of absence and other business, papers relating to the charges against 
Secretary Elbert, a petition (January 20, 1866) from colored citizens com- 
plaining of the exclusion of colored children from the schools, and of the 
law of 1864 which deprived them of certain rights, papers relating to the 
dispute between Governor Cumings and Secretary Elbert over the custody 



Bureau of Rolls and Library. 37 

of the seal (January, 1866), a printed copy of the constitution adopted by 
the convention of August 12, 1865, and an abstract of the state vote on 
the constitution, September 5, 1865. 

Dakota. 

(a) March 28, 1861-January 7, 1873 (1 vol.). 

This volume contains the executive proceedings from March, 1861, to 
November, 1866, together with correspondence relating to leaves of absence 
for territorial officers and other matters of business. 

District of Columbia. 

(a) 1790-1816 (10 vols., labelled "District of Columbia, Letters and 
Papers, Site and Building for Federal City "). 

(6) June 24-September 7, 1861 (part of volume, labelled "Territories 
of Minn., Neb., Ore., Wyom., . . . "). 

The first group consists of eight volumes of letters and two volumes of 
miscellaneous papers, all well mounted and bound, relating to the beginnings 
of the city of Washington. They are not, strictly speaking, " territorial 
papers ", but are the correspondence of the commissioners for laying out the 
Federal city, and supplement the material described below, under Office of 
Public Buildings and Grounds, War Department (pp. 128-131). A list of 
these papers is printed in Report of the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army, 
1900, part 8, pp. 5283-5286. 

Florida. 

(a) 1811—1832 (1 large bundle, together with smaller bundles and loose 
papers). 

These papers do not all relate to the territory of Florida. The earlier 
ones relate to the East Florida revolution, and include letters to James 
Monroe from John H. Mcintosh, " director ", a copy of the constitution of 
East Florida, passed on March 17, 1812, proclamations, etc. There are 
also various series of letters from 1811 on, e. g., 13 letters from John 
McKee to James Monroe, written from Fort Stoddard, April 17, 1811— 
March 11, 1812; 9 letters from George Mathews to the Secretary of State, 
February 25, 1811-June 22, 1812; letters from D. B. Mitchell to James 
Monroe and to Sebastian Kindelan, governor of East Florida, May 2- 
November 2, 1812; letters from Governor Kindelan to T. A. Smith, June, 
1812, and Thomas Pinckney, April, 1813; 12 letters from Thomas Pinckney, 
mainly to Governor Kindelan, February 12, 181 3- January 18, 1814, etc. 
A small amount of later material relates to Jackson's Seminole War, in- 
cluding a manuscript report of the trial of A. Arbuthnot and R. C. Am- 
brister, April, 1818, printed in American State Papers, Military Affairs, 
I. 721. The greater part of the material, however, relates to the transfer 
of Florida and to Jackson's government during 1821-1822. This consists 



38 Department of State. 

of a large number of letters from Jackson to John Quincy Adams, Presi- 
dent Monroe, and others; letters of Jose Callava, Joseph Coppinger, Colonel 
Robert Butler, James G. Forbes, John R. Bell, John G. Bird, James 
Gadsden, William P. Duval, George Walton, H. M. Brackenridge, Judge 
E. Fromentin, and others, bearing on the disputes between Jackson and 
Callava, the problems encountered in establishing a new government, etc. 
Part of this material is printed in American State Papers, Miscellaneous, 
II, T:»'.> (V. Especially should be noted a set of manuscript maps and draw- 
ings relating to Bast Florida, transmitted by Jackson to John Quincy 
Adams on October 4, 1821. Finally may be mentioned transcripts of the 
Acts of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, December 18, 
1827 January 19, 1828 (incomplete) and January 2-Fcbruary 12, 1832. 

Idaho. 

July II, 18G3-Dccember 1, 1872 (2 vols., labelled "Idaho"). 

The first volume contains correspondence on various matters with the 
Department of State, and some legislative papers, such as bills, resolutions, 
acts, etc., of December-January, 1 8(50-1 8G7. The second volume contains 
correspondence respecting Indian affairs and depredations, but is largely 
filled with papers, such as charges, petitions, and correspondence, relating 
to the removal of Governor Ballard. 

Illinois. 

(«) 1800-1818 (1 envelope). 

(6) 1812-1810 (part of "Papers and Records of the Territories", vol- 
ume 1). 

The executive register (t. e., proceedings) extends from March to De- 
cember, 1811 (a) and from March, 1812, to February, 1813 (6). There 
are also to be found the " Laws Enacted by the Governor and Judges ", 
March-August, 1811 (a), letters from the territorial officers to the Secre- 
tary of State (a), and miscellaneous papers. 

Indiana. 

(a) 1811-1810 (1 bundle labelled " Indiana Territory "). 

(fc) 1807-1810 (part of " Papers and Records of the Territories ", vol- 
ume I). 

(e) 1804 (1 envelope). 

The earliest paper (c) is a letter from Judge Thomas J. Davis (April 15, 
1804); a few papers (6) of 1807-1808, such as resolves, bills, etc., relate 
to legislative proceedings, while the executive proceedings (a and b) extend 
from January, 1811, to December, 1813, and from July, 1814, to June, 1810. 
Among other papers (a) are a memorial from the territorial legislature to 
Congress, resolves of a meeting of the inhabitants of Vincennes (July 9, 
1812) respecting the war against Great Britain, and letters from Governor 



Bureau of Rolls and Library. 39 

Thomas Posey to James Monroe (e. g., March 4, 1813, relating to Indians, 
and January 26, 1816, relating to statehood). 

Kansas. 

(a) June 29, 1854-April 30, 1861 (3 vols., labelled " Kansas Territory "). 

(fe) October 27, 1856-February 5, 1861 (part of the volume labelled 
" Territories of Minn., Neb., Ore., Wyom. . . . "). 

The first volume (a) is composed entirely of the executive minutes from 
June 29 to December 23, 1854, and from September 9, 1856, to December 
31, 1858. The minutes for the years 1856 and 1857 are unusually full 
and include the executive correspondence. The second and third volumes 
(a) extend from July 6, 1855, to April 30, 1861, and consist largely of 
correspondence, reports, newspapers, and other material relating to political 
affairs, crimes, acts of violence, etc. A letter from John W. Geary to 
James Buchanan (February 20, 1857) contains a long account of affairs 
in Kansas, while one from Epaphroditus Ransom to Lewis Cass (March 25, 
1858) discusses the persons proposed for the state offices. There may 
also be mentioned a transcript of affidavits and letters of August, 1856, 
and (6) a few miscellaneous letters of 1856-1861. 

Louisiana and Missouri. 1 

(a) 1804—1816 (part of "Papers and Records of the Territories" vol- 
ume I). 

(&)1806-1820 (1 bundle labelled "Missouri"). 

The executive proceedings are incomplete, being found only for the 
following terms, April-September, 1808 (6), April-September, 1813 (6), 
April, 1814-September, 1816 (&, a), October, 1817-March, 1818 (&). There 
are registers of appointments for October, 1807— March, 1808 (a), October, 
1810-September, 1811 (a), April 1-September 30, 1813 (&), October, 
1816-March, 1817 (b), and October, 1817-March, 1818 (6) ; lists of officers 
dated April 1, 1808 (fe), October 1, 1811 (a), April 1, 1813 (6), October 
1, 1813 (&), October 1, 1814 (fe), April 1, 1815 (&), October 1, 1815 (a), 
April 1, 1817 (6), and April 1, 1818 (&) ; and lists of licenses granted to 
trade with the Indians for April-September, 1807 (b), October, 1807— 
March, 1808 (a), October, 1810-September, 1811 (a), and August 18, 1817- 
April 1, 1818 (b). Of the legislative proceedings there are the "Acts of 
the Governor and Judges", 1806 (6), 1807 (a), 1808 (fe), and "Acts of 
the General Assembly", July— August, 1813 (6), and Resolutions of the 
General Assembly, December, 1814-January, 1815 (6), and December, 
1815-January, 1816 (6). There are also a number of proclamations (a) 
and letters (6), and an unsigned document (a) entitled " Separate Obser- 

1 The present state of Missouri was Louisiana Territory from 1805 to 1812 when 
the name was changed to Territory of Missouri. 



40 Department of State. 

v.ition "j St. Louis. November 4, 1801, which is an interesting account of 
political and social conditions by a man who had resided long in France, 
and was engaged in an expedition up the Mississippi in an effort to divert 
the fur-trade from Canada. 

Michigan. 

(a) 1805-1815 (1 vol. labelled "Letters and Papers from the Territory 
of Michigan "). 

(6) 1809 (1 letter in volume labelled " Territories of Minn., Neb., Ore., 
Wyoni. . . . "). 

(r) 1805, 1808, 1811-1813 (part of *' Papers and Records of the Terri- 
tories ", volume I). 

(d) 1807-18-20 (1 envelope). 

(e) October, 1 8 1 1— December, 1820 (1 bundle of "Executive and Legis- 
lative Proceedings "). 

An incomplete set of executive proceedings is contained in the above 
volumes and bundles; July-December, 1805 (a); July, 1807-June, 1808 
(a); July-December, 1811 (c) ; October, 1811-December, 182G (e). Of 
the legislative proceedings there are to be found " Acts adopted and made 
by the Governor and Judges", January-July, 1807 (a), and "Proceedings 
of the Legislative Council, Governor, and Judges", October, 1811-June, 
1828, and January, 1 821—December, 1825 (e). There are also scattering 
legislative and judicial papers (a), and papers relating to the government 
of the territory under Colonel Proctor after the surrender to the British 
(a). A large amount of correspondence covers the years 1805-1820 
(a, c, d), and includes letters from William Hull, A. B. Woodward, Stanley 
Griswold, Lewis Cass and others. These relate to the territorial govern- 
ment, to disputes in 1807 with Great Britain (a), and to the war of 1812 
and the surrender of Detroit. Especially should be mentioned a long 
letter from A. B. Woodward to James Monroe dated at Albany, March 22, 
1813 (c), with a large number of inclosures, all relating to the surrender 
of Detroit. Some of this material has been printed in the " Collections " 
of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society. 

Minnesota. 

(a) 1858 (part of volume labelled "Territories of Minn., Neb., Ore., 
Wyom., . . ."). 

Two unimportant letters, February 19, April 19, 1858. 

Mississippi. 

(a) 1800-1819 (1 small bundle). 

(fe) 1801, 1808, 1810 (part of " Papers and Records of the Territories ", 
volume I.). 

(c) 1801-1815 (1 vol., labelled "Governor's Correspondence in the 
Mississippi Territory "). 



Bureau of Rolls and Library. 41 

(d) 1809-1816 (2 vols., labelled "Proceedings of the Executive Council 
and Legislature in the Mississippi Territory"). 

The executive proceedings are complete from January, 1809, to December, 
1816 (d, except January-July, 1810, which are in c). The semi-annual 
registers of appointments extend from January, 1809, to December, 1815, 
except that those for July— December, 1811, and January— December, 1813, 
are missing (d, except July— December, 1815, which is in c). Of the 
legislative proceedings are to be found only the " Acts of the Legislative 
Council and House of Representatives", January to June, 1809 (d, I). 
The " Proceedings of the Governor as Superintendent of Indian Affairs ", 
January 28, 1803— June 31, 1804 (c), contains correspondence between 
Claiborne, Henry Dearborn, and others. There are also some miscellaneous 
legislative papers (c), and much correspondence between the Governor and 
the Secretary of State (c) some of which, 1810—1811, relates to West 
Florida, and is accompanied by important inclosures. The executive pro- 
ceedings, already noted, contain also much official correspondence dealing 
with such matters as the situation in West Florida in 1810, the filibustering 
movements about Mobile in 1810-1812, the military movements resulting 
from the War of 1812, Indian hostilities, etc.; a number of letters (a) from 
Winthrop Sargent, Henry Dearborn, Cowles Mead, W. C. C. Claiborne, 
Cato West, B. Metcalf, David Holmes, Henry Danigerfield, Judge Harry 
Toulmin, and J. P. Kennedy, to Wilkinson, Pickering, Madison, Monroe 
and others, relate to territorial affairs, relations with Spain, the expedition 
against West Florida, etc. 

Montana. 

(a) October 11, 1861-March 8, 1872 (1 vol., labelled "Montana Terri- 
tory"). 

(6) 1868 (1 envelope). 

There are executive proceedings for July— December, 1867 (a), January- 
June, 1868 (6), and July, 1870-June, 1871 (a), together with nearly half 
a volume (a) of legislative papers — acts, bills, resolutions, memorials, com- 
mittee reports — for 1866, as well as (a) reports of territorial officers, news- 
papers, correspondence, etc. 

Nebraska. 

(a) 1854-1866 (1 small bundle labelled "Nebraska Territory"). 

(b) June 13, 1855-March 27, 1867 (part of volume labelled "Minn., 
Neb., Ore., Wyom., . . ."). 

The executive proceedings (a) extend from the organization of the terri- 
tory to December, 1854, and from July, 1855 to December, 1856, and 
include the official correspondence. There are also letters (a) from the 
Governor to the President and the Secretary of State, correspondence (6) 



42 Department of State. 

relating to leaves of absence, governor's proclamations and messages (fa), 
newspaper clippings (fa), a long letter (a) of May 12, 18(5G, from H. H. 
Heath to Colonel Cooper, private secretary to the President, respecting 
political affairs, appointments, etc., and a letter (fa) from James M. Wool- 
worth to President Johnson, July 30, 1866, opposing the resolution of Con- 
gress for the admission of Nebraska. 

Nevada. 

(o) 18G1-186S (1 bundle). 

(fa) June 1, 18G3-December 2, 1864 (first part of volume labelled 

Nevada and Utah "). 

There are executive proceedings for 18G1 (a), 18G3 (a), and to October 
SI, 1864 (fa). A long letter (a) from Governor Nye, of December 21, 
18G1, is descriptive of general conditions, while there are papers (a) of 
18G3 relating to the Nevada-Colorado boundary. A communication (fa) of 
October '27. 1864, is accompanied by 175 pages of documents including the 
constitution, ordinances, and resolutions adopted by the constitutional con- 
tention of July 28, 18G4. 
New Mexico. 

(a) March 3, 1851-November 16, 1872 (3 volumes labelled "Territory 
of New Mexico "). 

(fa) 1858-1872 (1 bundle). 

The executive proceedings cover the following periods: March 3, 1851- 
September 24, 1851 (a, I), May 28, 1853-October 1G, 1854 (a, I), De- 
cember 1, 185G-November SO, 1860 (a, I), December 4, 18G0-October 21, 
18G3 (fa), November 2, 18G3-October 19, 18G4 (a, II), November 4, 1864- 
September 26, 1865 (fa), October 6, 1865-July 18, 1867 (a, II), December 
2, 18G7-November 26, 1868 (a, III), November, 1869-October 31, 1870 
(a, III), October 1, 1871-September 30, 1872 (fa). Of the other material 
mention may be made of the " Acts, Resolutions, and Memorials of the 
Legislative Assembly in the Session begun on June 2, 1851 " (a, I), of 
correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to Indian affairs, terri- 
torial matters, etc. (a, I), of memorials, governors' messages, proclamations, 
petitions, committee reports, and other legislative papers (a I, II), of corre- 
spondence relating to the postmastership at Santa Fe (a, II), of papers 
relating to the charges, 1864, against the territorial secretary, W. F. M. 
Army (a, II), of correspondence with the delegates in Congress and with 
federal officers (a, III), and of the journal of the House of Representatives, 
January 5-10, 1872 (a, III). 

Northwest Territory. 

(a) 1787-1801 (1 envelope). 

(fa)1788-1795 ("Papers and Records of the Territories", part of vol- 
ume I., and all of volume II.). 



Bureau of Rolls and Library. 43 

(c) July 9, 1788— December 7, 1793 (2 volumes of " Journal of the pro- 
ceedings of his Excellency Arthur St. Clair, Esquire, Governor and Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the Territory of the United States northwest of the 
River Ohio"). 

(d) 1788-1792 (1 volume labelled "Laws of the Western Territory"). 
See also below, Continental Congress papers, p. 47. 

In the envelope (a) are several copies of the ordinance of 1787, signed 
by Charles Thomson, a draft, signed by Washington, of Winthrop Sargent's 
commission as territorial secretary, September 1, 1789, an undated report 
of Governor Arthur St. Clair commencing with his departure for the terri- 
tory on December 20, 1789, and letters from Winthrop Sargent, Rufus 
Putnam, and Arthur St. Clair to the President, 1791-1801. The first 
volume of " Papers and Records of the Territories " contains letters from 
Winthrop Sargent to the President, 1788—1790, a survey of the lands in the 
Cahokia district, a list of the heads of families settled at Fort Vincennes 
before 1783, a schedule of lands to be surveyed, etc. The second volume 
contains the laws adopted and published to December 31, 1788, together 
with the appointments of officers and the laws passed in 1790, 1791 and 
1792, and the executive proceedings, including the official correspondence, 
from January, 1789, to June, 1795, except the periods July— November, 1789, 
and January— June, 1794, for which there are no entries. The last three 
volumes contain (c) fair copies of the executive proceedings, including 
eopies of letters, proclamations, decisions in land cases, etc., from July 18, 
1788, to December 7, 1793, and (d) the laws from July, 1788, to August 
1, 1792. Thus the material in the second volume of " Papers and Records 
of the Territories " is duplicated. 
Oregon. 

(a) July 1, 1853-September 4, 1858 (1 vol., labelled "Oregon Terri- 
tory"). 

(&) 1856-1858 (part of volume labelled "Minn., Neb., Ore., Wyom., 

' • '1; 

The " Proceedings and Correspondence of the Executive " (a) extend 
from July, 1853, to July, 1857. There are reports (a) of June 21, 1854, 
on the claims of the Hudson's Bay Company and the Puget Sound Agri- 
cultural Company, a printed copy (a) of the " Correspondence and Official 
Proceedings relating to the Expedition against the Indians " (Salem, 
Oregon, 1855), and miscellaneous letters (6). 

Orleans Territory (i. e., Louisiana) (cf. below, Miscellaneous Papers, no. 
14). 

(a) August, 1803- August, 1811 (6 vols., labelled " Gov. Claiborne's Cor- 
respondence "). 

(6) 1803-1815 (1 bundle). 



44 Department of State. 

(c) 1807, 1808, 1813 (part of " Papers and Records of the Territories ", 
volume I.). 

The materia] relating to Orleans Territory is among the most valuable 
of tfae territorial papers. It is unfortunately very roughly arranged; the 
bound volumes approximate a chronological order, but in many cases papers 
which should be grouped together are bound in several different places and 
the effect is confusing. As will be noticed, the papers commence before the 
establishment of the Orleans Territory, while the present Louisiana was 
Unorganised. They show very clearly the conditions at the cession, the 
problems arising out of the change of jurisdiction, and the process of erect- 
ing a new government. 

The executive sets or proceedings are not complete for the territorial 
period. Tin- papers that may he classed as such are the governor's letter- 
book. January— June, 1805 (a, III), registers of civil appointments, January, 
1805-Deeemher, 1806 (a, IV), general orders and letters as commander- 
in-chief, April. 1 805-Fcbruary, 1800 (a, IV), register of appointments in 
the militia. 180(> (a, IV), pardons and proclamations, January-June, 180G 
(a, IV), executive acts, January, 1807-Dccember, 1808 (a, V), January- 
June, 1809 (a, VI), executive proceedings, 1811 (o), and returns of the 
militia, June SO, 180G (a, IV) and June 30, 1810 (/;). 

A considerable amount of early material relates to the condition of the 
territory before and at the time of the cession. There are printed and 
manuscript copies of laws, regulations, etc., of the French regime (a, I), 
a census of the districts or posts of Louisiana and West Florida (a, I), 
a proclamation by Alexander O'Reilly, captain-general, dated at New 
Orleans, February 18, 1770 (6), a statement of the imports and exports of 
New Orleans for 1800 («, I), of the imports for 1801 (a, IV), census of 
Louisiana, 1785 (a, IV), census of New Orleans, 1803 (a, IV), a journal, 
in French, kept by Baptiste Trudeaux, agent for the Company of the 
Upper Missouri, commencing June 1, 1795, designated as " Seconde Partie ", 
and descriptive of the natives and country in what is now Missouri (a, IV), 
a statement of the population of the settlements of Upper Louisiana, with 
the births, marriages, deaths, stock and productions for the year 1799 (a, 
IV), and a long document by Daniel Clark, compiled about 1803, containing 
the answers to 37 inquiries respecting Louisiana (a, IV). 

Other material relates to the cession of Louisiana and to its boundaries. 
There is much correspondence with the Marquis of Casa Calvo (a, II, III), 
and between the French and English commissioners (a, I), lists of the 
members of the Spanish boundary commission, August 20, 1804 (a, III), 
of the civilians and officers in the employ of the King of Spain who are to 
depart when their business is accomplished (a, III), and of persons who 
are to remain in Louisiana, July 30, 1805 (a, III), a manuscript copy of 



Bureau of Rolls and Library. 45 

Jefferson's " Memoir upon the Boundaries of Louisiana " with his com- 
ments on the margin (a, III), and a criticism of Pickering's " Enquiry con- 
cerning the Northern Boundary of Louisiana" (a, III). 

The establishment of government is illustrated by such papers as a report 
by Dr. John Watkins to Claiborne, February 2, 1804, of his tour to the 
parishes and districts above New Orleans for the purpose of appointing 
suitable commandants (a, I), a document endorsed " Hints of Evans Jones 
respecting the mode of administering justice in Louisiana " (a, IV), and 
a great number of letters (a, &). 

The later material consists for the larger part of Claiborne's letters 
(a, b, c), with their inclosures. Thus there are many groups of correspond- 
ence containing both letters to and from Claiborne. There is correspondence 
with Madison, James Wilkinson, John Watkins, Governor Folch, William 
Dunbar, Jefferson, Daniel Clark, and many others. Among the matters 
touched on are Indian affairs, the Kemper outrages in West Florida, rela- 
tions with Spanish officials in West Florida, navigation of the Mobile, in- 
crease of Spanish garrisons, Morales and the sale of lands in West Florida, 
commerce of Mobile, Spanish advances beyond the Sabine, fugitive slaves, 
effect of embargoes on relations with West Florida, revolution in West 
Florida, reports of revolution in Texas and Mexico, Burr's conspiracy, 
Cuban refugees, etc. 

Much of the above material is printed in American State Papers, especially 
in Miscellaneous, I. See also the lists of contents of the journals of the 
territorial governors in Third Annual Report of the Director of the De- 
partment of Archives and History of the State of Mississippi, 1903-1904, 
p. 173 ff. 

Southwest Territory. 

(a) 1790-1796 (part of "Papers and Records of the Territories" vol- 
ume I.). 

(&) 1791-1796 (1 envelope). 

The executive proceedings are grouped by periods as follows: October 22, 
1790-February 6, 1791 (&), March 7-July 26, 1791 (&), September, 1791- 
April, 1792 (a), March-July 29, 1792 (fc), September, 1792-April, 1793 
(a), March, 1793-March, 1794 (a), March 1794-February, 1795 (a), 
July, 1795 (a), August 2, 1795-February 6, 1796 (&). Among the other 
papers may be noted many letters from William Blount (a), proclamations 
(a), a memorial from the civil and military officers of the Mero district, 
dated August 1, 1791, to the President desiring protection (&), a letter 
from Dan Smith to Jefferson (Knoxville, October 27, 1792), relating to the 
sufferings of the Indians (&), and a letter from William Blount to the 
Secretary of State (November 28, 1795), with a schedule showing the num- 
bers of the various classes of persons in the territory, with the vote on 



46 Department of State. 

Blount's recommendation that members be elected to a constitutional con- 
vention (6). 

Utah. 

{a) April 30, 1853-April 18, 18G1 (1 vol., labelled "Utah Territory"). 

(b) February 20, 1858-January 3, 1873 (second part of volume labelled 
Nevada and Utah "). 

There is much interesting material in these volumes. There may be 
mentioned, of the documents in the first (a), " Acts and Proceedings of the 
Governor" (Brigham Young), July 13, 1852-Octobcr 1, 1853, correspond- 
ence, memorials, addresses respecting the conflict with the United States 
of 1857-1858, a chronological summary of " Utah Affairs ", July 11, 1857- 
June '-"•>, 1858, proceedings of the United States Courts, 185G-1857, corre- 
spondence relating t<> the case of Henrietta Polydore, abducted from her 
father in England and found among the Mormons, acts and resolutions of 
the legislature; 1858-1851), newspapers, letters, etc. In the second volume 
(b) are letters from Governor Harding to the Department of State, 1802- 
18G3, relating to various matters but especially to the loyalty of Utah, execu- 
tive commissions, proclamations, and pardons of 18G9, a long letter from 
Governor Shaffer to S. M. Cullom (April 27, 1870) respecting the Mormon 
theocracy, miscellaneous correspondence, newspaper clippings, etc. 

Wathmgton. 

(a) February. 27, 1854-April 10, 18G1 (1 vol., labelled "Territory of 
Washington "). 

(6) December 7, 1857-December 4, 1872 (second part of volume labelled 
" Arizona "). 

(c) 1851-1889 (1 bundle). 

In the first volume (a) are found executive proceedings and official corre- 
spondence from the organization of the territory to July 1, 1854, July- 
December, 1857, August 8-November 30, 1859, and January 19-April 23, 
18G0, and the official correspondence for July-December, I860. There are 
also a " Journal of the Council of Washington Territory ", February 27— May 
1, 1854, a report of John Nugent, special agent on Fraser River, January 
8, 1859, and correspondence respecting the northwest boundary. The 
remaining material consists of (6) " Journal of the House of Representatives 
of Washington Territory", February 27-May 1, 1854, and (b, c), corre- 
spondence, messages, newspapers, and papers relating to the admission of 
the territory. 

Wyoming. 

(a) August, 1868-January, 1873 (part of volume labelled "Territories 
of Minn., Neb., Ore., Wyom. . . . "). 

(6) 1889 (1 envelope). 



Bureau of Rolls and Library. 47 

These papers are mostly unimportant. They include (a) the appoint- 
ment of the territorial governor, his first annual message, and leaves of 
absence, and (b) the memorial of the people of Wyoming transmitted No- 
vember 29, 1889, and the constitution. 



III. Miscellaneous Papers. 

1. Mason and Dixon's Line, 1768-1768 (1 vol.). 

The original journal of the commissioners appointed to determine the 
boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland. Surveyor's notes, mostly 
technical, with some descriptions and correspondence. 

2. Continental Congress Papers, 1775-1792 (98 vols.). 

These papers constitute that part of the collection of the Continental 
Congress papers that was not transferred to the Library of Congress. In 
the inventory of the Continental Congress papers printed in Bulletin of the 
Bureau of Rolls and Library, no. 1 (1893), pp. 7—22, they are included in 
the items nos. 5, 79-130, 135, 175, 176, and 187. They comprise the " Secret 
Journal of Foreign Affairs ", the letters of the Committee of Foreign Affairs 
and of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the letters from and to the minis- 
ters, agents or commissioners of the United States abroad, and from or to 
representatives of foreign states in the United States, various record-books 
of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and records of treaties and ordinances 
of Congress, etc. In particular may be mentioned certain volumes which are 
the beginnings of various series described above: "American Letters ", in four 
volumes, 1785—1792, are communications from the Department of Foreign 
Affairs to persons within the United States, and constitute the beginning of 
the series of " Domestic Letters " and diplomatic Notes to and from the 
Department, described above under the Bureau of Indexes and Archives (pp. 
5, 21) ; " Foreign Letters ", in one volume, 1785-1790, are communications to 
diplomatic and consular representatives abroad and commence the series of 
diplomatic and consular Instructions described above (pp. 4, 20) ; " Ordi- 
nances for the government of the western territory of the United States, 
1787 and 1788 ", in one volume, should be noted in connection with the series 
of territorial papers described above under " Northwest Territory" (p. 42). 
Much of the material just described, particularly the diplomatic correspon- 
dence, has been printed in Wharton's " Diplomatic Correspondence of the 
American Revolution " and in the three volumes of " Diplomatic Correspon- 
dence of the United States", 1783-1789 (Washington, 1837). 

8. Franklin papers, 1775-1783. 

Of the Franklin papers inventoried in Bulletin of Bureau of Rolls and 
Library, no. 5 (1894), pp. 12-14, those included in nos. 1-16, First Series, 



48 Department of State. 

have been retained in the Bureau of Rolls and Library. They consist of 
the records and letter-books of the United States legation in Paris, 177G- 
1783, the Craven Street letter-books, 1772-1773, the records of the negotia- 
tions in London in 1775, the correspondence with David Hartley, 1775-1781, 
Oswald's and Franklin's journals, Peace Commission, 1782, and the peti- 
tion of the Continental Congress to the King. Most of this material is 
printed in the various editions of Franklin's works, and in Wharton's 
"Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution". 

Jf. Beaumarchais claim papers, 1778—1787 (1 envelope). 

6. Lists of negroes carried an<ay from Charleston by General Carleton, 178S. 

G. Washington papers, 1789-1794 (3 vols.). 

Of the collection of Washington papers, an inventory of which is printed 
in Bulletin of Bureau of Rolls and Library, no. 3 (1894), pp. 5-21, the 
following \olumes were not transferred to the Library of Congress but have 
been retained in the Bureau of Rolls and Library: " Record-book of letters 
written by Washington, June 8, 1789-Marcb 19. 1791 " (1 vol.) and " Com- 
munications between the President of the United States and the Department 
of State ". March 27, 1 791 -October 11, 179G (2 vols.). 

7. Transcript of the journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate, 

Ma,/ 86*, 1789-1836 (10 vols.). 
These transcripts were made in accordance with the order of the Senate, 
January 27, 1792, "that the President of the United States be furnished 
with an authenticated transcript of the Executive Records of the Senate 
from time to time ". Printed in " Journal of the Executive Proceedings of 
the Senate of the United States ". 

8. Papers relating to the Columbia River and the Oregon Country, 1787—. 
These papers include the log-book of the ship " Columbia ", Robert Gray, 

commander, September 28, 1 790-February 20, 1792, an "Account of the 
discovery of the Columbia River, extracted from the Journal of Capt. 
Robert Gray — May 7-20, 1792"; instructions to Captain Kendrick, signed 
by Joseph Barrell [1787?]; a description of the Columbia River extracted 
from the journal of Josiah Sturgis, on board the "Levant", 1818; an ac- 
count of the exploration of the Columbia River and the settlement of the 
country, in a letter from William Sturgis to Captain Charles Morris, U.S.N. 
(Boston, August 22, 1816) ; and an account of the trade with the northwest 
coast in a letter from Thomas H. Perkins to Charles Bulfinch (Boston, De- 
cember 21, 1817). 

9. Letters from governors of states, 1790—1812 (1 vol.). 

These letters are on various matters. There are about twenty papers 
relating to the ratification of constitutional amendments, such as the formal 



Bureau of Rolls and Library. 49 

ratifications, opinions, etc. Many letters from Rhode Island relate to 
breaches of neutrality by British vessels. 

10. Letters and opinions of the Attorneys-General, 1792-1810 {1 vol.). 

A comparison of ten opinions taken at random between 1792 and 1803 
shows all to have been printed (H. Ex. Doc. 123, 26 Cong., 2 sess. ; H. Ex. 
Doc. 55, 31 Cong., 2 sess.). There are many papers, however, aside from 
opinions, consisting of correspondence, generally with the State Department, 
inclosures accompanying requests for opinions, etc., which are not in the 
volumes of printed opinions. One document perhaps deserves especial men- 
tion: "Extracts of the material parts of depositions and papers relative 
to a secret society formed at Montreal, and to a proposed invasion of His 
Majesty's Province of Lower Canada, 1801 " (18 pages). There are very 
few papers after 1804. There is no index; the arrangement is approxi- 
mately chronological. 

11. Mississippi and Tennessee lands, 1795—1816. 

There are 17 ledger volumes of indentures made by the Tennessee Com- 
pany of certificates of stock, etc.; a so-called "Journal of the Tennessee 
Company ", which is a list of the shares issued; a bundle of papers relating 
to the Yazoo claims, etc. For information relating to these claims see 
American State Papers, Public Lands, I. (in index, under " Tennessee Com- 
pany ", "New England Mississippi Company", and "Yazoo Company"). 

12. Southern boundary, Andrew Ellicott papers, 1796—1799 {1 vol.). 
This volume contains a " Journal of Mr. Ellicott's Voyage from St. 

Marks to the Mouth of the River St. Mary, Oct. 17, to Dec. 19, 1799 ", 
and correspondence of Ellicott with the Secretary of State, with Spanish 
and American officials including Wilkinson, Anthony Hutchins, Gayoso, 
Daniel Clark, William Dunbar, and others, and his expense accounts, engi- 
neering notes, etc. Some of this material is printed in Ellicott's " Journal " 
(Philadelphia, 1803) and in American State Papers, Foreign Relations, II. 
20-27, 78—87. Among the matters treated are disturbances in the Natchez 
District in 1797—1798, early phases of the West Florida controversy, Indian 
affairs, the situation in New Orleans in 1799, etc. 

IS. Walker charges, 1796. 

Charges against Sylvanus Walker of the internal-revenue service, district 
of South Carolina, reply of Walker and a letter from Mr. Stevens to 
Tench Coxe. 

lit.. Louisiana purchase and boundaries (cf. above, Territorial Papers, 
Orleans Territory). 
(a) Louisiana purchase, 1803-1804 (1 bundle). This bundle contains 
a manuscript copy of the treaty of San Ildefonso, and correspondence from 

5 



50 Department of State. 

Wilkinson and Claiborne regarding a possible military demonstration in 
order to insure the transfer of Louisiana. Tbere is also a letter giving the 
views of I. uissat on the boundaries of the purchase (cf. " Third Report of 
the Director of the Department of Archives and History of the State of 
Mississippi", p. 185). 

(6) Journal of Benard de la Ilarpe (1 vol.). The full title of this 
document is " Journal historique concernant lYtablisscmcnt des francais a 
la Louiaiane. Tire des memoires de Messieurs D'Iberville ct de Bienville, 
commandants poor le Roi au dit pays, et sur les decouvertes et recherches de 
M. Benard de la Harpc nomme nu commandement de la Bayc St. Bernard ". 
It appears to hive been written about 1725 and was discovered at Natchi- 
toches by Dr. John Sibley in 1801 and forwarded through Governor 
Claiborne to . Jefferson (Ford, "Writings of Jefferson" X. 339; see also 
Winsor's America, V. <">:!). It reviews the history of Louisiana from 1510 
to 1728. It wis printed in 1831. Along with it are found a letter from 
P. Ccvallos, Aranjuez, April 13, 1805, endeavoring to demonstrate that 
Louisiana as i French province did not include Texas (see American State 
Pipers, Foreign Relations, II. GOO), a letter from A. Cordero to Wilkinson, 
October 11. 1806 (see ibid., Military Affairs, I. 205), and a letter from N. 
Salcedo to Claiborne, September 18, 180(5. 

15. Curacao consular archives, 1797-1801. 

A bundle of manuscripts used as evidence in the French spoliation claims. 

16. Applications for relief of impressed seamen, 1797-1802 (2 vols.). 
Papers of David Lennox, United States agent for impressed seamen (cf. 

below, no. 10, and above, Bureau of Indexes and Archives, Miscellaneous 
Volumes and Papers, no. 65). 

17. Impressed Seamen, 1809-1816. 

Account-book of the United States consul at Plymouth in 1812: " Expense 
of relief of American Seamen "; also a " Descriptive list of Seamen, 1809- 
181G " (cf. above, no. 1G, and Bureau of Indexes and Archives, Miscellaneous 
Volumes and Papers, no. 65). 

18. Correspondence of Talleyrand, R. R. Livingston, and M. Cathelan. 
Evidence in French spoliation claims relating to seamen. 

19. Miscellaneous papers, 1806-1828 (1 package). 

These hundred or more papers are of date chiefly between 1812 and 1828 
and include the following documents: an undated report, later than 1822, 
on the island of Cuba, prepared by J. R. Poinsett for the President of the 
United States in which he comes to the conclusion that Cuba is important 
to the maritime security of the South and that care should be taken that no 
foreign power nor negro republic establish itself there; General Hull's 



Bureau of Rolls and Library. 51 

proclamation of 1812; Tench Coxe's observations on the subject of a treaty 
with England, later than 1805; general reflections on American independence 
(Madrid, December 23, 1814), urging that Spain take advantage of present 
circumstances to fortify her possessions in America against the encroachment 
of the United States (twenty pages of manuscript) ; proclamation of 
Brigadier-General Alexander Smith, in camp near BuiFalo, November 17, 
1812; memorandum of the dress of an American minister as fixed by the 
mission to Ghent; "An account of a mission or tour of Observation and 
Inquiry throughout the British W. I. Colonies, by command of the President 
of the United States. Commenced July 28, 1827, and closed June 2, 1828, 
by R. M. Harrison, consul of the United States for the island of St. 
Bartholomew " (this account takes the form of letters to Henry Clay, 
Secretary of State) ; " Notes on the restrictions imposed by Great Britain 
on Commerce of Neutrals with the Colonies of their Enemies in time of 
War " (this is undated and unsigned and comprises fifty pages of manu- 
script) ; "Journal No. 10. Begun 17th of June, 1790", ended July 8, 
1791 (a journal kept, apparently, by the private secretary of Jefferson). 

20. Livingston's batture, 1808-1810 {1 vol.). 

" Examination of the claims of the United States and the pretentions of 
Edward Livingston, Esq., to the batture in front of the suburb of St. Mary." 
A collection of papers with opinion sent to Thomas Jefferson from the 
State Department, and returned by him with additions. For information 
about this claim see American State Papers, Public Lands, II. 1 ff. 

21. Papers relating to the revolted Spanish provinces, 1810—1820 (1 vol.). 
This volume contains correspondence, credentials, declarations, appeals 

to the United States, reports of special agents of the United States on con- 
ditions in the revolted provinces ; the correspondence of Jose Alvarez Toledo 
with Monroe, Humbert, Robinson, and Shaler; the correspondence of 
Bernardo Gutierrez with John Graham; the report of Lieutenant-Colonel 
Richard Sparks of February 12, 1810, on the situation on the West Florida 
frontier; the report by J. H. Robinson, July 26, 1813, on Mexican affairs, 
based on his journey to Chihuahua, in 1812-1813, etc., etc. 

22. Papers relating to the Mexican Revolution, 1811—1817 {1 vol.). 

This volume is labelled " Papers relating to Louisiana and the Southern 
Boundary ". The first half of it contains correspondence of Jose Alvarez 
Toledo, Gregor McGregor, and others; papers relating to William Shaler 's 
mission to Texas in 1813, and to the controversy between Robinson and 
Toledo which resulted in a division among the Texas filibusters in 1814;. 
documents illustrating conditions on the Louisiana-Texas frontier after 
1811, etc. The second half of the volume contains a copy of the journal 
of Bernard de la Harpe noted above (no. 14). 



52 Department of State. 

23. VetteU and sea-fights, 1812. 

Several bundles of papers relating to various American and foreign ves- 
m Is. both merchantmen and men-of-war, to sea-fights, etc. There is an 
index to these papers in a manuscript volume. 

,.",. Privateer Ahaellino, 1814-1816. 

Journal of the " Abaellino ". bound from Boston to the Mediterranean, 
December 12, 1814-August I. 1815, Captain William F. Wyen. It contains 
accounts of actions, captures of 13 prizes, etc. 

Iff. Kotloff affair, 1815-1816 (1 vol.). 

Papers relating to the complications arising out of the arrest of N. 
Eosloff, consul general of Russia, at Philadelphia. The questions which 
arose were those of the Status of B consular officer, the jurisdiction of state 
and federal courts in such a case, etc. The papers consist of diplomatic 
corre s pondence, copies of judicial proceedings, evidence, etc. 

/ /.'. Prevoti papers, 1817-1825 (1 vol.). 
Mr. l'rcvost's instructions from the President, September 25, 1817, were 
to discharge several commissions at Rio Janeiro and other South American 
ports, to which he was to be carried on the sloop "Ontario" (Captain 
Riddle), and thence " proceed to the River Columbia with a view to assert 
then- the claim of sovereignty in the name and on the behalf of the United 
States, by some symbolical or other appropriate mode of setting up a claim 
to national authority and dominion ", though without force. In 1818, after 
discharging his duty in the matter of the Columbia River, Mr. Prevost re- 
turn.. I to Chile and Peru, whence he kept up an active correspondence with 
the President of the United States until 1825. The correspondence bears 
on the revolt of the Spanish provinces. Three of the letters are printed in 
Americ Papers. Foreign Relations, IV. 820-827. 

27. Privateers in South American waters, 1810 (small bundle). 

Depositions relating to privateers fitted out in Baltimore, and to their 
depredations in South American waters. These vessels, acting as privateers 
for the provinces of La Plata, attacked French ships. 

.28. Piratical acts, about 1820. 

Letters, memorials, etc., containing lists of piratical acts and accounts 
of individual cases of piracy. 
29. Transfer of Florida archives, May, 1832-Nov., 188^ (6 vols.). 

Journal of Jeremy Robinson, special agent and commissioner of the 
United States, who was endeavoring to obtain the transfer of the archives 
of Florida and Louisiana to the United States as provided for in article II. 
of the treaty with Spain of 1819. He kept a very detailed account of 
what he saw and did, and in these journals are to be found vivid descrip- 



Bureau of Rolls and Library. 53 

tions of social and political life in Cuba, correspondence with the United 
States and Spanish officials, an extended description of the archives, etc. (cf. 
L. M. Perez, " Guide to the Materials for American History in Cuban 
Archives" (Washington, 1907) pp. 117-121). 

30. Spanish pirates, 1835. 

Chest of papers relating to the capture and trial of, and the attempts to 
release seven Spaniards condemned in the United States for piracy. 

31. Archives of United States legation in Texas, 1841— 1884- {1 bundle}. 
These papers consist of correspondence between the legation and the gov- 
ernments of Texas and Mexico, of Despatches to the Department of State 
and Instructions to the legation, and of correspondence with the United 
States consulate at Galveston, and with individuals (cf. above, Bureau of 
Indexes and Archives, Analysis of Diplomatic Archives, Texas; and Miscel- 
laneous Volumes and Papers, no. 71). 

82. Buenos Ay res, 1844 (1 vol.). 

Correspondence of Captain Vorhees, Commodore Turner, and others, 
1844. The two commanders had a controversy with the fleet of the Buenos 
Ayres belligerents, and this correspondence of 200 pages resulted. 

83. Liberia, 1844 (small bundle). 

Petitions to acknowledge independence of Liberia. 

34- List of French imports under tariffs of 184-6 and 1857. 
Showing the reduction of imports. 

85. Reciprocity with Canada, 184-8— 1874- (1 vol. and an envelope of loose 

papers) . 
Papers relating to treaty of 1854 with Great Britain, together with miscel- 
laneous loose papers, such as letters from manufacturers concerning 
reciprocity with Canada, statements as to Canadian trade, etc. (cf. Bureau 
of Indexes and Archives, Miscellaneous Volumes and Papers, no. 78). 

86. Miscellaneous letters, 1861-1862. 

A bundle of letters, mostly to Secretary Seward, on various subjects, 
mainly about appointments. There are a few papers of some value, as re- 
ports and letters of special agents relating to aid furnished Confederates 
through the West and Canada, and to such organizations as the Knights of 
the Golden Circle, but with little detailed information. There are newspaper 
clippings and letters of advice sent to Seward in regard to the Mason-Slidell 
affair, including two letters from Edward Everett. A letter from Bristol, 
England, to London (February 12, 1862), forwarded to Seward, contains 
information about vessels loading and intending to run the blockade. There 
are some applications of foreign officers for appointments in the United 
States army, and a few applications for the exchange of certain prisoners 



5 1 Department of State. 

(ef. Bureau of Indexes and Archives, Miscellaneous Volumes and Papers, 
no. 19). 

1 If airs in Xew Orleans, 1862. 
Report by Rcverdy Johnson on difficulties between General Butler and 
various inhabitants of Now Orleans, especially Amadce Couturie, consul of 
the Netherlands, Except a Few letters between Johnson and Couturie, all 
is printed in S. Ex. Doc. 10, 37 Cong., 8 sess. 

88. Memorial to William Seward, 1868. 

Relating to Washington A. Bartlett, ex-lieutenant United States Navy, 
and asking fox liis restoration to office in the Navy (see S. Rept. 237, 34 
Cong.; 1 sess.). 

39. Journal of Midshipman Clarence Cary, Confederate Navy, 1864. 
Evidence in the Alabama claims. 

40. Address of tke tili~ens of Sieitr.erland, 1865. 

Expressing satisfaction -it the close of the war and sorrow at the death 
of Lincoln. Autograph copy, May 1, 18G5 (cf. Bureau of Indexes and 
Archives, Miscellaneous Volumes and Papers, no. 24). 

'/. Mississippi papers, 1865-1869. 

Constitution of Mississippi as amended August, 1805, and adopted No- 
vember 80, 1809; ordinances of the convention, nos. 1 to 21 ; a letter of trans- 
mittal from Provisional Governor W. L. Sharkey, of August 28, 1805. 

4$. Texas papers, Jf.v 

Constitution and ordinances transmitted with letter of Leigh Chambers, 
April 2, 1866. 

43. Ten letter-books of the commissioners of the United States to the Vienna 
Exposition of 1875 (cf. Bureau of Indexes and Archives, Miscel- 
ous Volumes and Papers, no. 50). 

DIPLOMATIC BUREAU. 

The Diplomatic Bureau is wholly occupied with conducting the diplomatic 
correspondence. It has no archives of its own, all the correspondence which 
it conducts being deposited in the Bureau of Indexes and Archives (see 
Michael, 47-49). 

CONSULAR BUREAU. 

The Consular Bureau conducts all the correspondence of and relating to 
the consular service. This correspondence is filed in the Bureau of Indexes 
and Archives. Like the Diplomatic Bureau, the Consular Bureau has no 
important files of its own. It keeps a record of the notarial fees received 
by consuls, leaves of absence, dates of transfers, etc. (see Michael, 50-54). 



Bureau of Trade Relations. 55 

BUREAU OF APPOINTMENTS. 

The files of the Bureau of Appointments consist of applications for ap- 
pointment to office, recommendations, copies of commissions, records of 
nominations and appointments since 1789, oaths of office, amnesty oaths, 
extradition papers, and the records of pardons issued prior to June 16, 1893. 
The application papers, which constitute the larger part of the files, are 
arranged by names of applicants, and with each application are filed the 
papers, recommendations, etc., relating thereto. A card-index renders the 
papers readily accessible (see Michael, 83—86). The earlier papers are 
calendared in Gaillard Hunt's " Calendar of Applications and Recommenda- 
tions for Office during the Presidency of George Washington " (Washington, 
1901). The Great Seal of the United States is in the custody of this bureau, 
and the bureau publishes the " Annual Register of the Department of State " 
and the periodical lists of diplomatic and consular officers. Robert Brent 
Mosher's "Executive Register of the United States, 1789-1902" (Balti- 
more, 1903) contains a list, compiled from the files of this bureau, of all 
cabinet officers since 1789, together with the exact dates of their terms of 
office. 

BUREAU OF ACCOUNTS. 

The Bureau of Accounts has the records and accounts of all money re- 
ceived or disbursed through the Department of State. These accounts are 
classified as follows: (1) international indemnities or trust funds; (2) diplo- 
matic and consular accounts; (3) accounts of the department proper. 



BUREAU OF TRADE RELATIONS. 

The act approved February 14, 1903, establishing the Department of 
Commerce and Labor, also makes it the duty of the Bureau of Trade Rela- 
tions to formulate, under the direction of the Secretary of State, for the 
instruction of consular officers, the requests of the Secretary of Commerce 
and Labor. 

Among its other functions and duties are included the preparation of 
memoranda and compilation of statistics for the use of the Department of 
State in the consideration of questions arising in the foreign relations of the 
United States, for example, in the negotiation of treaties of reciprocity; the 
drafting of instructions to diplomatic officers in relation to foreign treat- 
ment of American exports, particularly in the case of protests on the part 
of the American exporting interests against burdensome restrictions upon 
their trade ; development, classification and use of a commercial library for 
the proper equipment of the bureau for the performance of its various duties. 



56 Department of State. 

This commercial library, which now contains about !H)0 bound volumes and 
•J. .">()() pamphlets, is devoted almost exclusively to statistical and other publi- 
cations issued by foreign governments and received through the diplomatic 
and consular officers of the United States, ami of similar publications of 
this government. Duplicate copies of foreign commercial documents are 
transmitted by the Bureau of Trade Relations to the Department of Com- 
merce and Labor or to such other branches of the government as would be 
most likely to be interested in the subject matter. 



P \SSPORT BUREAU. 

The archives of tins bureau date from 179(5 and are confined to applica- 
tions for passports and records of passports issued. In the department's 
publication by Oaillard Hunt, "The American Passport: Its History, and a 
Digest of Laws, Rulings and Regulations governing its Issuance by the 
Department of State " (Washington, 1808), is a considerable amount of his- 
torical data concerning the archives of this bureau which furnish a good 
index of the character of the archives. Chapter n. deals with the special 
passport and gives a number of interesting forms of passports issued by the 
federal government; chapter m. shows various forms issued by state au- 
thority, and chapter vii, shows the earliest forms used. 



Treasury Department. 57 



TREASURY DEPARTMENT. 

There is no general history of the Treasury Department. A book pub- 
lished in 1847 by Robert Mayo, entitled "The Treasury Department and 
its various Fiscal Bureaus " (Washington, 1847), is valuable for the account 
it contains of the history of the department and of its bureaus during the 
first half-century, and for the picture it gives of the workings of the depart- 
ment in 1847. In the same way George N. Lamphere's " The United 
States Government" (Philadelphia, 1880, pp. 44-141) contains an excellent 
account of the duties and functions of the various bureaus of the department 
as they were performed in 1880; and part two of the " Cockrell Report" 
(S. Rept. 507, 50 Cong., 1 sess.) constitutes a very detailed description of 
the methods of work in each bureau and office in 1887—1888. Finally the 
various reports bound in volume II. of the House Reports (53 Cong., 1 sess.) 
contain accounts of the methods of work, especially those of accounting, in 
the department, and recommendations as to changes which were eventually 
carried out. Under the respective bureaus and offices described below will 
be found specific references to other descriptions or histories. 

The files of the department have suffered severely from fires. The losses 
in 1801 were comparatively slight, but in 1814 the Register's office lost 
heavily, and 1833 the correspondence filed in the Secretary's office was 
burned. In recent years great quantities of papers in various bureaus have 
been destroyed as valueless. The extent of the files is very great; in one 
office alone they cover over ten miles of shelving, and this showing could be 
duplicated in other offices. It is extremely difficult to form any estimate 
of their aggregate bulk, but it would doubtless be erring on the side of con- 
servatism to put it at nearly one hundred miles of shelving; in other words, 
at more than twice the present capacity of the Library of Congress. At 
present the files are somewhat scattered, but most of them are in the Treasury 
building and a storage building on E Street. The papers filed in the latter 
are in no danger from fire, but the conditions prevailing there prohibit any 
research by investigators. In the Treasury building the files in nearly every 
bureau are greatly crowded, which in many cases prevents their ready use 
by students. 

The proper method of gaining access to the files is by application to the 
Secretary of the Treasury. Many classes of records are considered con- 
fidential and cannot be used for purposes of investigation. 



58 Treatwy Department. 

DIVISION OF MAIL AND FILES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY. 

The duties of the Mail and Files Division are largely confined to record- 
ing and filing the Secretary's correspondence. Letters received arc here 
briefed and indexed, transmitted to tlie bureau or division to which they 
relate, and finally returned to this division to he filed, and in like manner 
letters sent are here briefed and indexed and press copies of them placed 
on file. Thus this division is the repository of all the Secretary's corre- 

iid its files are among the most important in the department. 

An excellent description of the duties of this division is contained in the 

11 Report ". 

There win- DO Losses in the Secretary's office in the fire of January 20, 
" American State Papers, Miscellaneous ", I. 241-243) nor during the 
Invasion by the British in August, 1814 (ibid., II. 248-249); but after the 
fire of March :'. I, 1888, the Secretary reported to Congress that all the 
etary's correspondence had been destroyed except (1) correspondence 
relating to Revolutionary claims; (-j) correspondence relating to applications 
under the insolvency laws; (3) two record-hooks containing letters to banks; 
(4) two record-books containing communications to Congress (H. Ex. Doc. 
22, 23 Cong., 2 sess.). Other correspondence was recovered later and, as 
is shown below, the files in many cases antedate 1833. For the destruction 
of useless papers in this division see S. Ex. Doc. 44, 51 Cong., 1 sess., and 
S. Doc. 246, 55 Cong., 2 sess. 

As indicated by what has been said the correspondence constitutes the 
more important part of the " Secretary's Files ". This naturally consists 
of letters sent and letters received. The former are in two main groups: 
(I) press copies of letters sent, prior to 1878, duplicated by a set of fair 
copies, (2) press copies of letters sent since July 1, 1878, at which time the 
practice of making fair copies was abandoned. In the first group the fair 
copies are the more accessible. These are arranged in series, each series 
having a series-letter as " A ", " B ", etc., according to the persons addressed, 
e. g., Letters to Congress. The press copies are in corresponding series, 
but the number of volumes is much greater than that of the fair copies, the 
copies are frequently poorly made and almost illegible, and the volumes are 
considerably scattered, all of which makes it more convenient for the in- 
vestigator to use the fair copies. Gaps that may occur in either set are 
generally filled by volumes in the other. The account below, under II., 
is based upon an exhaustive examination made in 1900 of the fair copies, 
supplemented by the examination made in 1903 of such series of press 
copies as were accessible. The second group of letters sent consists of 
press copies only, but as the copies are mostly from type-written letters, 
and as the volumes have not been scattered but are perfectly accessible, the 



Division of Mail and Files. 59 

material can be readily used. The volumes are arranged in series corre- 
sponding to the divisions of the Secretary's office in which they are prepared. 
In each series the arrangement is chronological. 

The letters received are preserved in bound volumes and file cases and are 
variously classified. Those prior to 1869 were arranged in series corre- 
sponding roughly to the series of letters sent. These series consist of bound 
volumes, supplemented by file-boxes of such papers as for some reason or 
other failed to be bound. For the most part the letters from 1869 to date 
have been kept in file-boxes, arranged in varying series. The letters re- 
ceived are relatively inaccessible, most of them having been stored in a 
warehouse on E Street. Such series as are accessible are described below 
under II. There is, however, a register of letters received (see I., below) 
which is accessible and which probably offers to the investigator the most 
practicable method of commencing his search. 

The following account is divided into three sections corresponding to the 
three groups of material that present themselves to the investigator in such 
form as to make an examination practicable: (1) the register of letters 
received; (2) the fair copies of letters sent supplemented by the accessible 
press copies prior to 1878; together with the accessible series of letters 
received; (3) the letters sent since 1878. 

The account is by no means complete, although it is believed that the 
most important material has been included. The inaccessibility of much 
of the material must continue seriously to curtail any investigation until 
adequate space has been provided for the files. 

I. Record of Letters Received, 1789 to Date. 

For the most part the original letters received are filed in a storage build- 
ing and are not readily accessible. Such of the letters received as are 
accessible are described below under II. in connection with the appropriate 
groups of letters sent. An elaborate record of the letters received has 
however been kept, and it is by means of this that this class of material 
can best be used. The method of recording the letters has changed from 
time to time as indicated in the following account. 

1. Index, 1789-1878 (1 vol.). 

This is a small volume and is of value only for the material prior to 1834, 
which is not otherwise indexed. 

2. Register of letters received, July, 188 %-Dec ember 81, 1872' (58 vols.). 
In these volumes the letters received are entered alphabetically and 

chronologically; i. e., under A are entered, in the order of their receipt, all 
the letters from persons whose names commence with A. The date of the 
letter, the date of its receipt, the name and residence of the writer, the 



60 Treasury Department. 

subject of the letter and the division to which the letter was referred arc all 

indicated. The Subject of the letter is indicated so briefly that it is not 

generally of imicli service to the investigator. 

S. Record of letters received, 1873-July, 1902 (189 vols.). 

This record is in two scries, " A ", and " B ". each devoted to a certain 

group of subjects. In each series the letters relating to the subjects to 
which the series is devoted are entered in the order of their receipt; the 
sum' information being recorded respecting them as in the earlier series. 
The alphabetical grouping, however, is abandoned. An index to this record, 

in a large number of volumes, aids the investigator in finding letters, 

though the pr o ce ss is somewhat complicated. 

I 'ard mdes. 

Beginning with August, 1902, letters received have been recorded and 
indexed by a card system . 

II. LdlJiai Sim. with ichtiis I .UTTERS RECEIVED, 1789-1878. 

Executive correspondence. 

;. Letters to the Preeideni (*' A "). April 9, 1833-June SO, 1878 (2 vols., 

fair copies'). 
This is a trainable series. The letters relate to a great variety of matters 
connected with the administration of the Treasury Department. Among 
the subjects touched on may be noted erection of buildings, appointments, 
surveys, tonnage duties on Mexican vessels, removal of the public money 
to banks, building of the bridge across the Potomac, issues of treasury notes, 
pauper immigration, the Smithsonian bequest, the Florida claims, the whale 
fisheries of New Bedford and Nantucket, sale of lands, erection of light- 
houses, payment of indemnity by the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, opinions 
respecting proposed legislation, etc. Especially interesting are many 
letters from Secretary Chase, during the period of the Civil War. One 
of March 20, 18G1, deals with the collection of duties and the enforcement 
of the revenue laws in southern ports; two, of December 7, 1862, and May 
26, 1864, relate to the restriction of trade between Illinois and Missouri, and 
one of May 6, 1864, contains an opinion upon the Fort Pillow "massacre", 
and recommends the execution of Confederate officers. A series of five 
volumes of press copies duplicates the series of fair copies and contains 
many original letters, copies of which were transmitted with the Secretary's 
letters. These inclosures are frequently not found in the series of fair 
copies. 

2. Letters to Cabinet and bureau officers (" B "), 1833-1878. 

These letters are variously grouped, the arrangement having been changed 
from time to time. 



Division of Mail and Files. 61 

Cabinet and Bureaus ("B"), April 1, 1833-December 31, 1860 (14 vols.). 

Cabinet (" B° "), January 1, 1861-November 24, 1866 (2 vols.). 

Interior Department (" B " and " BA " 1 ), November 25, 1866-June 30, 
1878 (10 vols.). 

Attorney General and Department of Justice (" B " and " BB "), No- 
vember 25, 1866-June 30, 1878 (10 vols.). 

Navy Department (" B " and " BC "), November 25, 1866-June 30, 
1878 (2 vols.). 

Post-Office Department (" B " and " BD "), November 25, 1866-June 
30, 1878 (2 vols.). 

State Department (" B " and " BF "), November 25, 1866-June 30, 
1878 (9 vols.). 

War Department (" B " and " BG "), November 25, 1866-June 30, 1878 
(5 vols.). 

Bureaus, i. e., of Treasury Department (" B b "), January 1, 1861- 
September 30, 1866 (4 vols.). 

Treasury Department, i. e., bureaus (" B "), October 1, 1866-June 30, 
1878 (26 vols.). 

These letters from the Secretary of the Treasury to officers of the cabinet 
and to the bureaus of the Treasury Department are on various subjects, 
such as matters of routine business, appointments, interpretations of tariff 
laws, deposits in the Bank of the United States, disposition of the French 
indemnity, captured property, suits for the evasion of the tariff laws, free 
importations for the use of the government and of foreign ministers, etc. 
The letters to the Department of Justice show the action taken in cases of 
disputes over payment of duties, and should be of considerable value. 

8. Letters from executive officers, 1819, 1833-1869 (133 vols.). 

These volumes are supplemented by file-boxes of papers which failed to 
be bound with the other papers and which in a few cases are dated as early 
as 1819. All the papers since 1869 are filed in boxes under various titles. 
These letters are from the President, cabinet, and officers in executive depart- 
ments, such as comptroller, solicitor, auditors, commissioners of customs, 
light-house board, land office, etc. 
Congressional correspondence. 

These letters are in various series according to the different methods of 
arrangement that have been adopted from time to time. 

Congressional (" E "), December 22, 1806- June 26, 1812 f December 

1 Beginning with July 1, 1874, this and the five series following are designated as 
" BA," " BB," " BC," etc. 

2 This volume has on the title-page " Letters and Reports to Congress from Albert 
Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury, . . . "Vol. V." It is one of the few original 
volumes not destroyed in the fire of 1833. The two volumes following were made up 
some time after the fire. 



62 Treasury Department. 

10, 1816-March 2, 1821; December 22, 1825-March 5, 1830; January 6, 
1888-December 81, 1889 (8 vols., fair copies). 

President of Senate and Speaker of House (" C ") June 2, 1841-De- 
cember 81, 1868 (8 vols., fair copies). 

Individual Members of Congress (" E "), December 4, 1835-December 
81, 1866 \ols.. fair copies). 

Committees ("D"), September 12, 188 7- June 30, 1874 (8 vols., fair 
copies). 

Sena! January I, 1867— March 18, 1874 (l vol., fair copies). 

House of Representatives (" E "), January i, 1867-Mareh 18, 1874 (3 
vols., fair cop 

Congreadona] (" C "), March 19, 1874-June SO, 1878 (4 vols., fair 
copit - . 

This is .in extremely valuable series, but much of the more important 

materia] has been printed in the congressional documents. The division of 
tlie letters into groups is not absolutely e\elusi\e, as many letters which 

apparently belong to one group are found m another. The earliest volume 
(1800-1812) contains mueli interesting material, most of which is to be 
found in the American State Papers. These are reports on laying out 
public roads | January 1!>. 1807) ; on Spanish land laws (January 20, 1807) ; 
on a survey of the COasI of North Carolina (January 20, 1807); on Santo 

Domingo I February 8, 1807); on the payment of jurors by the United States 

(February L 1807); on Lands in Louisiana, .Mississippi, and Michigan; 
on roads and canals (April 4, 1808); on violations of the embargo act (No- 
vember 24, 1808); on the revenue-cutter service (November 29, 1808); etc. 
In the volume for 1810-1821 are letters and reports on the amount paid to 
Georgia from sale of lands in the Mississippi territory (February 13, 1817); 
the drawback on wines prevented from being exported by the embargo of 
1807 (February 28, 1818); transfer of deposits from local and state banks 
to the United States Hank (December 10, 1817); redemption of lands sold 
for payment of the direct tax (February 3, 1818); petition for relief from 
the operation of the non-intercourse act of 1812 (March 4, 1818); necessity 
of rule that receivers of public money accept only specie, United States 
Bank notes, or notes of specie-paying banks (May 12, 1819) ; on the agency 
of the Treasury for the War and Navy Departments (January 23, 1821); 
smuggling by way of the West Indies (January 11, 1821); Cumberland 
road (April 0, 1820) ; etc. In general the letters in this series illustrate the 
co-operation, or lack of it, between Congress and the department. The in- 
fluence of party is shown in an interesting way in the correspondence of 
1841, which contains complete drafts of bills transmitted by the Secretary 
of the Treasury for the establishment of a " Bank of Exchequer " and of a 
" Bank and Fiscal Agent ", together with an exposition of the views of the 



Division of Mail and Files. 63 

administration respecting such institutions; and in the correspondence of 
the department with the finance committees during the administration of 
President Johnson. Numerous letters from the general public, expressing 
views on various matters of public policy, such as tariff and financial legisla- 
tion, are found in these volumes, having been forwarded to Congress by the 
Secretary. There are also a great many letters to members of Congress 
respecting appointments. Other letters give interpretations of laws of trade, 
discuss shipments through Canada, the establishment of ports of entry, the 
condition of the Marine-Hospital Service, and the restoration of American 
registry to vessels transferred to foreign registries during the Civil War. 

Judiciary correspondence. 

1. Letters to the judiciary (" F"), November 26, 1828-June SO, 1878 {8 

vols., fair copies). 
Here the policy of the department in regard to cases arising out of 
customs duties is shown. Letters to marshals, district attorneys, etc., are 
found, relating chiefly to law-suits and actions arising out of evasion of 
customs, to salaries, court sessions, etc. Only a few letters prior to 1833 are 
included and they are all recent copies. The only reference to nullification 
is in a letter to the United States district attorney in Charleston, expressing 
the satisfaction of the department with his conduct during the late difficulties. 

2. Letters to attorneys and marshals, 18^.5—1850 (^ vols., press copies). 

General correspondence. 

1. Miscellaneous letters sent (" K "), September 26, 1789— December 7, 
1832; April 8, 1838-June 80, 1878 (120 vols., fair copies) 
This series includes correspondence with the officials of various states, 
with merchants and importers, and with the general public, and contains 
much interesting material. Among the earlier letters are several relating 
to the assumption of the state debts, the redemption of Continental currency, 
and the claims of the states to moneys accruing from sales of public lands. 
Other letters show the consistent attempts to bring causes to which the 
United States was a party, especially at the time of the embargo laws, into 
the federal courts, while in occasional letters a close connection between the 
Treasury and War Departments is indicated. The tariff and financial 
troubles of the period 1830-1846 are illustrated by letters prescribing the 
character of bank-notes acceptable for customs bonds, and interpreting 
revenue laws. The controversy between President Tyler and the Whigs 
over the establishment of a new bank receives more attention in the corre- 
spondence with Congress but is mentioned in several letters of this series, 
and the connection between the Treasury and the private bankers in 1857 
and in 1863—1865 is plainly indicated here. Among the later letters are 
some relating to such subjects as interpretations of the extent to which the 



G i Treatury Department. 

1 iw providing an eight-hour day for government employees applied to em- 
ployers of linns under contract with the Treasury, but ■ much larger part 
of tin- correspondence relates to claims by importers against the ruling of 
custom house officials, these Letters duplicating in large measure the informa- 
tion given in tlie letters to tlie various collectors. 

llametmt letters n 1801 I860 {US vols.). 

Here are letters bo the department from the general public dealing with 

. it \ arietv of Subjects, siieli as personal introductions, importations, 
Frauds, O pe r a t i on Of tariffs, blockade running, seizures, detentions, etc. In 

many cases they possess great interest and much of irhai is said above n 
specting the miscellaneous Letters sent applies also to this group. 
.;. / on \g* letter* ■ dprU 8, 1833-Junc 80, 1S7S (5 vols., fair copies). 

These letters are addressed bo residents of foreign countries and relate 
t,. commercial and financial matters. Here arc found answers to complaints 
from for. IgD merchants regarding charges under tlie United States tarill laws 

,ii,l Liters to for. Ign banks or bank) ra notifying them of drafts drawn upon 

tin m by the I nited States Treasury in payment of diplomatic salaries or 
other expenses of the go\ eminent in foreign countries. Other letters ex- 
plain the provisions of American taritl" or hanking laws and a few relate to 
Services rendered by foreigners, especially Canadians, in giving information 
as to proposed or thwarted schemes for smuggling goods into the United 

Stab s. 

Bank correspondence. 

Letters to banks r ZO "), November 17, 188% dprU IS, 181$ ('> volt., 

fair eopit 
These letters relate bo deposits of public money, maintenance of specie 
payments, relief of public deposit hanks, disputes with the United States 
Bank, refusal of deposit hanks to pay drafts drawn by the United States, 

and Various other matters. 

. Letters from banks, 1888-1866 (>.', vols.). 

These volumes contain much interesting and valuable mat .rial. Printed 
bank-charters, articles of incorporation, lists of stockholders, and similar 
documents are so numerous as to be of considerable illustrative value. The 
letters are on all subjects connected with banking: advice as to the redemp- 
tion of Treasury notes, warnings against national bankruptcy, endorse- 
ments of certain banks as being proper institutions to be made public de- 
positaries, agreements respecting special deposits, etc. On the margins or 
backs of many of the letters are outlined in the writing of the Secretaries 
the replies to be made by the department. 



Division of Mail and Files. 65 

3. Letters to foreign bankers {" ZM"), April 28, 1808-March 29, 1883; 
July 17, 183^-January 19, 18£3 (2 vols., fair copies); 1856- 
1878 {12 vols., press copies). 
These letters relate mainly to the details of foreign exchange. 
If.. Letters from foreign banks, 1833—1856 (3 vols.). 

These are concerned chiefly with the payment of international debts and 
arrangements respecting loans of the District of Columbia. Considerable 
correspondence is found relating to the payment of the awards in the French 
Spoliation claims. 

5. Jackson to Duane, June, 1833 {1 vol. of 70 pages). 

Private letters relating to the removal of the deposits from the United 
States Bank. Printed in W. J. Duane's " Narrative and Correspondence 
concerning the Removal of the Deposits " (Philadelphia, 1838). 

6. Amos Kendall's report, September, 1838 (1 vol.). 

This volume supplements the volume of letters from Jackson to Duane. 
It contains Duane's instructions to Kendall (July 23, 1833) to make an 
investigation respecting the feasibility of entrusting to the state banks the 
functions performed by the United States Bank, and Kendall's affirmative 
report of September 4, 1833, together with transcripts of his correspondence 
with banks, and Duane's letter (September 9, 1833) transmitting the report. 
Most of this material is to be found in Taney's report of December, 1833 
(S. Doc. 17, 23 Cong., 1 sess.), and in " Niles's Register", volumes 44 
and 45. 

7. Letters on state deposits ("RB"), June 27, 1856-September 11, 1887 

{1 vol., fair copies). 
This volume contains letters to governors, treasurers, and other officials 
of the states, relating to the deposits made with the states under the act of 
June 23, 1836 (5 Stat. L. 52) and also letters to presidents and cashiers of 
deposit banks chiefly respecting transfers of public money. 

Public lands correspondence. 

1. Letters to general and local land offices ("IV"), March 1, 1801— June 

SO, 1878 (8 vols., fair copies). 

These letters illustrate the development of the public land system of the 

United States. Among the earlier correspondence are recommendations to 

the President for the removal of receivers of public moneys engaged in 

fraudulent practices and of United States district attorneys for failure to 

detect and report these practices to the Secretary of the Treasury. As a 

result of these conditions the later letters to receivers demand a stricter 

administration of the law and an immediate deposit and report of moneys 

received. From 1830 to 1846 and again about 1870 a separate account 

for the various classes of money received is required. Beyond forbidding its 

6 



66 Treatwry Department. 

agents to speculate in land scrip (act of May 30, 1830) the Treasury 
decided that it could not interfere with this speculation nor with the receipt 
of this money for lands. Many letters scattered through the various volumes 
deal witli the complaints of individual purchasers. Others illustrate the 

practice of reserving from sale lands Lying along routes of projected canals 

and railroads, or give instructions regarding the allotment of lands to innni- 

grants coming by imitation of the government, as in the case of the Polish 
immigration of 1884, 

.'. Letters from land offices. 1S33-18U (3S vols.). 

These letters are of much the same character as the letters sent; they 

relate to the actual administration of the Land Office, are valuable to the 

student of land questions, and suggest many of the practical administrative 

problems. 

Customs and internal revenue correspondence. 

1. Letters to cull,; tors ,it small parts (" G "), September 22, 1789-June SO, 

- | 99 volt., fair copies). 
These h tti rs contain instructions to collectors respecting matters of 
routine business, questions of law, etc. Tor example here is found Taney's 
order to collectors to d. posit in the local hanks instead of in the branches of 
the United States Bank. The first seven volumes of this series were copied 
alter the fire of 1833, presumably from the files of the various customs- 
houses. 

2. Letters to the collector of the port of New York (" II "), July 1, 18^7- 

■ lune SO, 1878 (89 vols., fair copies). 
Of the same general character as the preceding series; there are letters 
relating to cases of fraud, to appointments, to the interpretation of tariff 
schedules, to expenses of certain officers, to the value of various classes of 
imports, storage of imports under bond, application for damages, etc. 

3. Letters to the collector of the port of Baltimore, 1790-1830 (1 vol.). 
A volume of original letters. 

4- Letters to the collectors of the ports of Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, 
and New Orleans (" I "), July 3, 181,7-June SO, 1878 (51 vols., 
fair copies). 
The first eight volumes, to July 31, 1859, contain the letters of all four 

ports. After August 1, 1859, separate volumes are assigned to each port: 

Baltimore, 10 vols., Boston, 14 vols., Philadelphia, 10 vols., New Orleans, 

9 vols. 

6. Letters to collectors of Pacific ports ("J"), November 2, 1850-June 

30, 1875 (10 vols., fair copies). 
6. "Collier cases", 18^9-1853 (1 vol.). 

Correspondence with surveyor of customs Collier of California, relating 
to the cases of the ships " Abeille ", " Edouard ", and " Java ". 



Division of Mail and Files. 67 

7. Letters from collectors, 1883-1869 (225 vols.). 

These letters correspond in subject matter to the letters to collectors. 
They contain much valuable material, and constitute an excellent source of 
information respecting the operation of the tariff laws and the customs 
service. Particular mention may be made of a group of letters relating to 
the admission of gold from California in 1849. 

8. Letters to appraisors, surveyors, etc. (" W "), June 1, 18^5-June 80, 

1878 {lJj. vols., fair copies). 
These letters contain much interesting material, such as instructions, inter- 
pretations of the law, etc. 

9. Customs warehouse division (" GA "), January 9, 1868— January 13, 

1870 {2 vols., fair copies). 

10. Custom-house nominations, 18^1—1865 (J/.9 vols.). 

These letters contain recommendations, memorials, nominations, notifica- 
tions of deaths, etc. 

11. Lists of custom-house officers, 18^0-1859 (3 vols.). 

12. Incidental expenses of customs officers, 1875—1878 (11 vols.). 
18. Reduction of custom-house expenses, 1858—1861 (1 vol.). 

lJf. Customs; miscellaneous estimates for expenses of collecting revenue, 
1870-1878 (8 vols.). 

15. Custom-house building, New York, 1832-18^.6 (1 vol.). 

16. Furnishing custom-house buildings, 1833—18^9 (1 vol.). 

17. To collectors, refunding duties (" YB "), August 26, 181^— June 18, 

18^9; July 25, 1851-March 12, 1858 (7 vols., fair copies). 
These volumes consist of printed forms, filled in, directing the return of 
duties to importers in cases where duties have been wrongfully collected. 

18. Customs orders of distribution (" YC "), August 7, 1867-June 80, 1878 

{12 vols., fair copies). 
These volumes consist of printed forms, filled in, indicating the distri- 
bution of the proceeds of seizures for evasion of customs duties, between 
the collector, the surveyor, the naval officer, and the informer. 

19. Awards and decisions (" Z "), March 19, 1853-April 26, 1875 (3 vols., 

fair copies). 
These volumes are for the most part made up of the formal awards of 
moieties to informers, in the cases of seizures for evasion of customs duties. 

20. Letters, remissions, etc. (" ZV "), January 10, 1838-April 1, 1852 (2 

vols., fair copies). 
These are remissions of forfeitures in cases where seizures have been made. 

21. Revenue marine letters (" X"), October 1, 1790-June 80, 1878 (66 

vols., fair copies). 



Treasury Department. 

The title of this series varies : " Letters on Revenue Cutter Service ", 
" Letters on Revenue Cutters and Boats ", " Letters on Revenue Marine and 
Boats ". The first volume in the scries consists of copies of early letters, 
made since the fire of 1833. A set of Registers in eight volumes (January 
1, 1833— Deceinlu r 81, 1871) accompanies the series and furnishes an index 
to it. 
22. Log-books, muster-rolls and journals. 

The log-hooks, muster-rolls, and journals of the revenue cutters and 
othei boats in the revenue marine service .-ire preserved in the Mail and Files 
Division. 

J-!. Letters to collectors and assessors of internal revenue (" G "), January 

/. 186* June SO, 1878 QM vols., fair copies). 
These letters relate to the expense incurred in the maintenance of custom- 
houses, etc., and in the performance of duty by officers of the internal revenue 
service. There 'ire also communications to banks as to deposits, or cashing 
of drafts. Other litters arc to newspapers, respecting the publication of 
laws, or to corporations and individuals in explanation of tariff and excise 
regulations. Letters to State governors relate to cession of jurisdiction over 
sites of federal buildings. 

Internal revenue ivareliousi- dirixion, January 18, 18G8-June 10, 1870 

(1 vol., fair copies). 

These are letters to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, collectors, etc. 

.'■'>. Miscellaneous internal revenue correspondence, I860 to 1871 (38 vols.). 

Special agents. 

1. Reports of special agents: 1831^-1878 (16 vols.); 1878 to date (several 
hundred file-boxes). 
These reports may be divided into two groups; (1) those from 1834 to 
1878, and (2) those since 1878. The material in the first group relates to 
instructions given to agents for the examination of books and records in 
custom-houses, mints, offices of various departments, etc. In the war periods 
it is interesting if not valuable. The material since 1878 is regarded by the 
department as confidential. It relates largely to the investigations of frauds 
of various kinds but is also of great value to the student of tariff questions, 
the reports frequently being monographs on the special phases of the tariff 
and allied subjects. The reports in the first group are arranged chrono- 
logically; those of the second group are arranged by names of agents. 

Circulars and decisions. 

1. Circulars (" T "), September llf, 1789-June 30, 1878 (8 vols, fair copies). 
These circulars contain instructions, interpretations, etc., and have con- 
siderable historical value. Copies of each circular are now printed for the 



Division of Mail and Files. 69 

use of the Treasury Department, and are bound at the end of each year ; see 
" Circular Instructions of the Treasury Department relative to the Tariff, 
Navigation, and other Laws " (Washington, 1903—). 

2. Secretary's decisions (" SD "), January 2, 1868-April 12, 1870 (1 vol., 
fair copies). 

Decisions of the Secretary on all questions arising in the administration 
of the department. The printed series of decisions extends from January, 
1868 to date: "Synopsis of Decisions" (Washington, 1868-). The 42 
volumes that had appeared prior to June, 1906, contained nos. 1-27,458 of 
the Department Decisions, and, commencing in 1890, nos. 1—6,394 of the 
General Appraiser's Decisions. 
Appointments and removals. 

A large amount of unimportant correspondence relates to appointments 
and removals. The volumes (press copies) are grouped in various series. 

1. Appointments and Removals. 
Department, 1849-1878 (68 vols.). 

Customs, mints and subtreasuries, 1864-1878 (50 vols.). 

Internal revenue, 1865-1878 (6 vols.). 

Life-saving stations, 1870-1878 (1 vol.). 

Marine hospitals, 1868-1878 (1 vol.). 

Janitors, 1871-1878 (1 vol.). 

Marine, 1870-1877 (2 vols.). 

Miscellaneous, 1866-1877 (1 vol.). 

2. Letters to heads of bureaus, 1866-1877 (8 vols.). 
Removals, promotions, discipline, etc. 

8. Leaves of absence, 1861-1878 (1ft vols.). 

If.. Absences, reductions, and remittances, 1869—1877 (1 vol.). 

5. Leaves of absence, revenue marine service, 1871 (1 vol.). 

Miscellaneous. 

1. Correspondence of department (" YC "), April If., 1851-July 7, 1852; 

July 28, 1862-May 81, 1871 (£ vols., press copies). 
Letters from the chief clerk, assistant secretary, and others replying to 
requests for publications, acknowledging receipt of articles, etc. Also 
letters to bank officers, to the President recommending certain persons for 
appointment, to appointees who have failed to execute their bonds, to the 
Secretary of War with statements of warrants signed upon requisition of 
the War Department, etc. 

2. Correspondence of department (" ZL "), January 8, 1862— January 3, 

1872 (6 vols.). 
These volumes are not in consecutive order. Several cover the same 
period, each containing a distinct class of material. The letters relate to 
printing, stationery, documents, and official advertising. 



70 Treasury Department. 

8. Telegrams, 1836-181 4 (29 vols.), also a series of fair copies ("X a "), 
November 28, 1850-June SO, 1874 (6 vols.). 
These relate to a wide .range of subjects; appointments, requisitions, trials 
of offenders, etc., but arc suggestive rather than sources of definite or de- 
tailed information. 

4. Transfer drafts (" R "), November 10, 1861-March 15, 1866 (2 vols., 

ftiir copies). 

5. Letters to subtreasury and assistant treasurer (" U "), July 6, 1840— June 

80, 1878 (15 vols., fair copies). 

>:. Marine hospital letter* (" M "), April 8, 1833-June 80, 1878 (17 vols., 

fair cojiies). 

7. Life-saving stations (" XB "). June 80, 1873-June SO, 1878 (18 vols., 

fdir copies). 

8. Letters to custodians and disbursing agents (" GB "), November 1, 1877— 

June 30, 1878 (4 vols., fair copies). 

9. Correspondence nith depositories, 1868—1864 (1 vol.). 

10. Letters to mints, 1872, 1876-1878 (1 vol.). 

11. Printing orders, light-house record, 1863-1878 (44 vols.). 

12. Treasury Department, order-book (" OR "), March 4, 1861-March 29, 

187$ ( I rol.). 
1->. Balances due the United States from officers and others (" ZT "), 
January-December 8, 1856 (1 vol.). 

14. Resolutions of inquiry (" RI "), December 18, 1848-February 24, 

1896 (3 vols.). 
A list of the resolutions with an abstract of the contents of each. 

15. Letters to governors, state officers, and others, 1865-1878 (40 vols.). 
These letters touch on a great variety of subjects. Many are to cashiers 

of banks. 

16. Letters from territories, 1839-1857 (1 vol.). 

These letters bear on the fiscal relations between the United States and the 
territories. 

17. Correspondence relating to the Chickasaw Indians (" S"), January 16, 

1834-December 19, 1872 (2 vols., fair copies). 
These volumes consist largely of receivers' returns and correspondence 
relating to the treaty made with the Chickasaws under the act of 1836. They 
indicate the ways in which the money provided for in the treaty was in- 
vested and otherwise disposed of. 

18. Insolvent debtors (" ZP"), March 22, 1881-March 24, 1843 (8 vols.). 
These volumes contain material relating to the administration of the act 



Division of Mail and Files. 71 

of March 2, 1831, " for the relief of certain insolvent debtors of the United 
States ". It consists of letters to officers of the department, and to the com- 
missioners of insolvency, and of decisions and warrants. 

19. Insolvent debtors, 1831-1859 (5 vols.). 

Letters from commissioners of insolvency reporting on cases. 

20. Texas debt, 1837-18J.0 (8 large note-books); 1856 (1 vol.). 

The note-books contain a list of the holders of the Texas debt, both the 
consolidated fund of 1837 and the loan of 1840, with copies of Texas bonds. 
The volume contains correspondence with persons to whom the Republic of 
Texas was indebted, containing information as to the character of the debt. 

21. Neapolitan indemnity, 1836-1837 (2 vols.). 
Letters of claimants. 

III. Letters Sekt, 1878 to date. 

Beginning with July 1, 1878, all letters sent have been preserved by press 
copies only, and these have been bound in series corresponding to the divi- 
sions in which they were prepared. They are a continuation of the series 
of letters sent in the preceding group, II., and what has been said descriptive 
of that material applies also to this. Furthermore the titles of the series 
are sufficiently descriptive. The following list is a statement of the volumes 
in this class as they were found on the shelves of the Secretary's Files, at 
the close of 1906. It will be noted that most of the series appear to end in 
1902; this is because the later volumes have not yet been placed in the 
Secretary's Files but are still retained in their respective divisions. The 
order of filing, as indicated by the series-letters, is followed. 
" A ". Division of Appointments, July 1, 1878- July 31, 1902, (367 vols.). 
" B ". Book-keeping and Warrants, July 1, 1878-July 31, 1902, (27 vols.). 
" C ". Public Moneys, July 1, 1878-July 31, 1902 (226 vols.). 
"D". Customs, July 1, 1878-December 31, 1904 (605 vols.). 
" E ". Division of Internal Revenue and Navigation, July 1, 1878-Sep- 
tember 14, 1887 (76 vols.). With volume 57, July 1, 1884, the title 
changes to Division of Merchantile Marine and Internal Revenue. 
"EK". Miscellaneous Division, September 15, 1887-July 31, 1902 (46 
vols.). Continuing series " E ". In 1906 the Miscellaneous Divi- 
sion was merged in the Division of Book-keeping and Warrants. 
" F ". Division of Loans and Currency, July 1, 1878-July 31, 1902 (114 

vols.). 
" G ". Division of Revenue Marine, July 1, 1878-July 31, 1902 (218 vols.). 
With volume 151, January 1, 1895, the title changes to Division of 
Revenue Cutter Service. 
" H ". Division of Stationery, Printing, and Blanks, July 1, 1878-July 31, 
1902 (62 vols.). 



72 Treasury Department, 

" I ". Division of Special Agents, July 1. 1S7S July 81, 1809 (90 vols.). 

" K ". Division of Captured and Abandoned Property, July i, 1878-Sep- 
bembet 14, 1887 (18 vols.). With volume 6, July l, 188-1, the title 
changei t.« Division of Captured Property, Claims, end Lands. In 

tlii> fniiiu it ion should be noted 7 volumes of press copies of similar 

letters, 1868-1878. 

" L ". Division of Beeords, Piles, and Hail, July l, 1878-July si, 1002 

(20 vols.). With volume 8. July 1. 188-1, the title changes to 
Dh iston of Mail end Fill •< 
•" II '. Office of Supervising Architect, July 1, 1878-July SI, 1902 (1G8 

sols.). 

N ". Office of Supervising Surgeon-General of the Marine-Hospital Ser- 
vice, July 1, 1878-July 81, 1902 (12 vols.). 
■■ P '. Ofice of Custodian of the Building, July 1, 1878-July 31, 1902 
(2S8 vols.). With volume 118, lYbruary, 1901, the title changes to 
Office of Chief Clerk end Superintendent. 

It *'. oilier of Genera] Superintendent of the Life-Saving Service, July 
1, 1878-July 81, 1902 (12 vols.). 

" V ". Persona] letters sent from the Secretary's Office, April 18, 1898— 

July 31, 1902 (7 vols.). 



DIVISION OF HOOK K I UMNO \NI) WARRANTS, OFFICE OF THE 

SECRETARY. 

By the act of July 81, 1884 (28 Stat. L. 208) the Division of Warrants, 
Estimates and Appropriations in the office of the Secretary of the Treasury 
was recognized and established as the Division of Book-keeping and War- 
rants. It was nude the custodian of all the accounts of receipts and ex- 
penditures of public money, except those of postal revenues. The books 
in which these accounts had been kept were transferred from the offices of 
the register and the various auditors so that at the present time this division 
contains all the original records of the receipts and expenditures of the 
government since 1789, except such as have been destroyed by fire (see 
below under office of Register) or otherwise lost. It has not been possible 
to provide adequate accommodations for this material, hence it has not 
as yet been so arranged as to make any systematic examination of it at all 
practicable. In accordance with a standing order of the House of Repre- 
sentatives of December 30, 1791, the annual statements of the receipts and 
expenditures were printed from 1789 to 1891 under the title "Account of 
the Receipts and Expenditures of the United States " ; there is at present 
printed a " Combined Statement of the Receipts and Disbursements ..." 
for each fiscal year. 



Division of Book-keeping and Warrants. 73 

There are also in the custody of this division the archives of the old 
Miscellaneous Division (consolidated with the Division of Book-keeping 
and Warrants in 1906). These records consist of books and papers relative 
to the French spoliation claims and to the various southern claims, and are 
mainly of the periods 1789-1808 and 1861-1878 respectively. The amount 
of this material is very considerable, one room being entirely filled with it. 
It is being listed and indexed. 

I. Marine Papers relating to the French Spoliation Claims, 1789-1808. 

These papers consist of registers and manifests of vessels clearing at the 
ports listed below, including bills of sale, sea letters, letters of marque (New 
York, 1798-1801), proofs of ownership (especially full for New York). 
They cover about 200 linear feet of shelving and are in file-boxes, bundles, 
and bound volumes arranged by ports and dates. They are not indexed, but 
there are papers from the following ports : 

York, Me. Providence, R. I. 

Bath, Me. Newport, R. I. 

Kennebunk, Me. New Haven, Conn. 

Wiscasset, Me. Middletown, Conn. 

Castine, Me. Bridgeport, Conn. 

Portsmouth, N. H. New London, Conn. 

Gloucester, Mass. New York, N. Y. 

New Bedford, Mass. Sag Harbor, N. Y. 

Plymouth, Mass. Perth Amboy, N. J. 

Fall River (Dighton), Mass. Philadelphia, Pa. 

Marblehead, Mass. Baltimore, Md. 

Salem, Mass. Petersburg, Va. 

Newburyport, Mass. Edenton, N. C. 

Boston, Mass. Savannah, Ga. 

II. Papers relating to Southern Claims. 

Papers of the Confederate Government. 

These papers were purchased under the act of June 10, 1872 (17 Stat. 
L. 350) and consist of certain of the archives of the Confederate State and 
Treasury Departments. The State Department records constitute what 
are known as the " Pickett papers ", from the name of the agent through 
whom they were purchased; an account, by J. M. Callahan, of the collection 
and of its purchase is printed in the " South Atlantic Quarterly " for 
January, 1903. The diplomatic correspondence, the most important part 
of the collection, was transferred to the Library of Congress in November, 
1906. The papers relating to the commission to Washington were, how- 



7 I Trcasuri) Department. 

ever, retained. rinse include the instructions of the commissioners, de- 
Bpatches DOS. 1—1 from the Secretary of State, and nos. 1-9 from the com- 
lm-Monrrs, together with other correspondence, telegrams, memoranda, etc. 
/. Miscellaneous papers of the Confederate State Department. 

(1) Book of reports, President to Congress. 

(2) Proclam ation-book, and also manuscript and printed proclamations. 

(S) President's messages (pamphlets). 

(I) Pardon-book. 

(5) Domestic letter-book, and domestic litters, 1801-18(55, with an index- 
book of letters re c e ive d . 

:,'cs of papers and letters, and record-books relating to office- 
bolding, ns.: applications for once, and for issue of commissions, acting 
appointHK DUj records of eominissions, confirmations and resolutions of 
Congress, oaths of office, letters of resignation, etc. 

(7) Passports, applications for foreign passports, congressional military 
passportSj descriptiTe lists, etc. 

(8) Financial papers and accounts, vie: correspondence, cash-book, 
ledger, appropriation-book, requisition-book, foreign service account-book. 

Destroyed property; index to property destroyed by Confederate 
authorities, and an ind<\ to that destroyed by the enemy. 

(10) Letters of marque, register of letters of marque, correspondence 
relating t" letters of marque. 

(II) List of vessels running the blockade. 

(12) Steamer "Sumter", cruise and operations. 

(13) Fort Sumter, correspondence relating thereto, with notes by Judge 
Campbell. 

(11) Exchange of prisoners, correspondence of Robert Ould relating 
thereto. 

(15) Ordinances of secession, conventions between the states, and corre- 
spondence relating thereto. 

(1G) Letters to Secretary of State from foreign consuls in the Con- 
federate States. 

(17) Cypher-tables used in correspondence with Mason, Slidell, Mann, 
and others. 

(18) Notes of assistant secretary of state and of chief clerk, relating 
to current events. 

(19) Telegrams, pension papers, commission of Albert Pike, Trescot's 
correspondence, miscellaneous memoranda. 

(20) Copyright records. 

(21) Exequaturs to consuls. 

(22) Various blank forms, and some printed material, such as newspapers, 
acts, etc. 



Register of the Treasury. 75 

2. Papers of the Confederate Treasury Department. 

These papers consist for the most part of (1) lists of subscribers to 
Confederate loans and of parties to the cotton transactions of the govern- 
ment, together with certificates, vouchers, records of payments of interest, 
etc.; (2) the records of the organization and transactions of the Texas 
Cotton Bureau; (3) Virginia poll-lists, showing the votes of individuals on 
the ordinance of secession ; (4) " General books " containing the records of 
sales of bonds and of payments of interest by the Confederate treasury; 
(5) records of treasury drafts and war warrants; (6) lists of the assessors 
of the war tax; (7) lists of bondsmen and sureties; (8) records of contracts, 
correspondence of the treasury, etc. These papers are kept in boxes, bound 
volumes, and bundles, and are arranged by states and general government, 
with a subarrangement by subjects. 

3. Captured and abandoned property claims {1863—1878). 
Correspondence relating to captured and abandoned property; the reports 

of special agents; records of leases and rents; trade-store accounts, etc. 
(see act of March 12, 1863, 12 Stat. L. 820). These records are in file- 
boxes, bundles, and volumes; the correspondence is arranged chronologically, 
the reports, by districts and agents (see also the volumes of correspondence 
in Mail and Files Division). 

4- Southern claims commission and cotton claims papers. 

Book records relating to the claims submitted under section 3, act of 
March 12, 1863 (12 Stat. L. 820), and section 5, act of May 18, 1872 (17 
Stat. L. 134). 

REGISTER OF THE TREASURY. 

The office of the Register of the Treasury was established in 1789. Until 
1894 one of its most important duties was the recording of the receipts and 
expenditures of the government, and the office was organized in several 
divisions; but in that year the number of divisions was reduced to two, the 
Division of Loans and the Division of Notes, Coupons, and Currency, and 
the recording of the receipts and expenditures was discontinued (see the 
annual reports of the Register for 1894 and 1895), the books relative to 
that work being transferred to the Division of Book-keeping and Warrants. 
At present the office is charged with the issue, exchange, transfer, and 
redemption of bonds (Division of Loans), and the receiving, counting, ex- 
amining, arranging, and registering of all redeemed notes, certificates, 
coupons, interest checks, etc. (Division of Notes, Coupons, and Currency). 
The files of the Division of Loans, which are the only ones in the Register's 
office having historical value, include the records of the public debt from the 
earliest times. It is hardly necessary to describe in detail the current 
administrative records of this division; they consist of the accounts kept 



76 Treasury Department. 

with all holders of United States registered bonds, of interest schedules, of 
correspondi ace c on nec t ed with the transfer of bonds, coupons, etc. The 

earlier records, which are of most interest, are described more in detail below. 
The first important loss sustained by the office of the Register was in 

181 t. According to the report made to Congress (" American State Papers, 

Miscellaneous". II. 849-850) the following records were destroyed: (1) 
ledger*, journals, and .auxiliary books connected with the Imports, tonnage, 
and int. mil revenue, to 1810; (2) export books, to 1803; (3) vouchers and 
documents relating to tlie settlement of the accounts of collectors of customs 
and lUper t iSU tl <'f internal revenue and direct taxes, to 1811; (4) records 

of re cei pt s and expenditures, vi:., (a) ledgers and journals, to it!»8, (/>) 

luii large cis, s ,>f vouchers and reports on settled accounts; (5) records of 
tin- pohlk debt, "'-•, (a) Several old journals and ledgers, (b) books con- 
taining receipts for certificates of funded debt delivered to the Treasury 
before 1800, '<) cancelled certificates of the Revolut ionary funded debt, 
vi:.. loan office certificates, army certificates, and final settlement certificates 
issued by commissioners of the staff and marine departments and by com- 
missioners of the levera] states, (,/) receipts for the dividends on principal 
and interest of the funded debt paid at the several loan offices, to December 
31, 1812. and receipts for dividends declared at the treasury, to December 
31, 1810, (r) transfers or cancelled certificates of the funded debt, to 1811. 

In the fire of March 31, 1833, the Register's office reported the following 
losses: (1) vouchers to the internal revenue accounts and to the accounts 
settled by tlie accountants of the War and Navy I )epartmcnts prior to 1817; 
(2) abstracts connected with the Post Office accounts prior to July 1, 1828. 
In the same report the following records were mentioned as preserved: (1) 
records of tlie receipts end expenditures of the government; (2) revenue 
accounts settled since 1825; (3) revolutionary records; (4) stock records, 
including receipts for dividends on principal and interest taken at the treas- 
ury and loan offices since 1814, with the exception of several small parcels; 
(5) records of tonnage, commerce, and navigation since 1821 (H. Ex. Doc. 
22, 23 Cong., 2 sess.). For lists of the files destroyed as being valueless 
sec S. Ex. Doc. 44, 51 Cong., 1 sess., and S. Doc. 97, 57 Cong., 1 sess. 

The extent of the files of the Register's office is too great to be readily 
estimated. The earlier records are arranged approximately by states, and 
are filed in closets where they are not easily accessible. The later records, 
in fact the records of all extant loans, are so arranged and filed that im- 
mediate reference can be made to any part of them. The card-system is 
being brought into use in keeping the accounts of the office. The records 
of the extant loans are of course in constant use by the office, but the early 
records are seldom if ever used. Their use by investigators would probably 
be allowed provided no question of any claim was involved. 



Treasurer of the United States. 77 

1. Earliest extant bond issued by the United States, February 6, 1777. 

No. 133 issued under the act of October 3, 1776. Framed, and kept in 
a safe. 

2. Continental certificates of indebtedness. 

A list of all the men to whom certificates of indebtedness were given under 
the act of July 4, 1783 (" Journals of Congress ", VIII. 289), giving names, 
certificate numbers, dates, and amounts. There are over 90,000 entries. 

3. Loan office records, 1781^-1835 {over 500 vols.). 

Records of loan offices in the thirteen states, including ledgers, receipts, 
subscriptions of stock, journals, statements of stock comprising the assumed 
state debts, etc. Arranged by states. 

If.. " Register of the Certificates issued by John Pierce, Esquire. Paymaster- 
General and Commissioner of the Army Accounts for the United 
States. New York. Printed by Francis Childs at the New Printing 
Office, opposite the Coffee House Bridge ", 1786 (4 vols.). 
5. " General government office " records, 1790—1835 {18 vols.). 

These records of the general government are in large ledger volumes 
with the various titles: " Resolutions and inquiries of Congress ", " Foreign 
treasury dividends ", " Funded deferred six per cent, stock ", " Summary of 
stock funded at loan offices and treasury, 1790—1794", "Revolutionary 
claims allowed, 1829—1831 ", " Journal of state lottery, first class ", " Esti- 
mates and statements ", " Executive orders and decisions ", " Schedule of 
dividends on assignable stock ", " Letters of the secretary of the Treasury " 
on matters of routine, " Domestic Louisiana six per cent, stock ", " Warrants 
exchanged ", " Regulations in regard to United States bonds ". 



TREASURER OF THE UNITED STATES. 

The Treasurer of the United States is charged with the receipt and dis- 
bursement of all pubblc moneys that may be deposited in the treasury at 
Washington and in the subtreasuries at Boston, New York, Philadelphia, 
Baltimore, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, New Orleans, and San Francisco, 
and in the national-bank United States depositories ; is redemption agent 
for national-bank notes; is trustee for bonds held to secure national-bank 
circulation and public deposits in national banks; is custodian of miscel- 
laneous trust funds; is fiscal agent for paying interest on the public debt; 
is special disbursing officer for the Porto Rico tariff fund and for the 
Philippine Islands tariff fund; is fiscal agent for paying the land purchase 
bonds of the Philippine Islands, principal and interest; is agent for paying 
interest on Spanish indemnity certificates, and is ex officio commissioner of 
the sinking fund of the District of Columbia. These duties are distributed 



78 Treasury Department. 

mmnng tin various divisions of the office of the Treasurer, but all tbe records 
and files of tin- office are preserved in the Division of tbe Chief Clerk. The 
records, which WPC wholly administrative in character, are of two kinds — 
Correspondence and accounts; and while thej would probably be of consid- 
erable value for an exhaustive study of finance, the daily and other reports 

of the Treasurer contain the information ordinarily desired. 

The office of the Treasurer was established in its'.>, but its files are not 

complete. Then were no losses in the lire of 1801 ("American State 

PaperSj Miscellaneous ". I. 241- 248), nor any oi' importance in 1814- (ibid., 

II. .1- 149), but in the tin- of 1888 all the records and accounts of the 
office prior to .June 1, ISJ'.i, were destroyed except (1) Records of Treas- 
urer's quarterly payments fo» Several yean prior to .tune I, 1829", and (2) 
Eteeords of payments into the treasury by collectors and receivers of public 
money since 1818 " ill l'.\. Doc. 22, 23 Cong., 2 sess.). Before 1870 many 
of the records were scattered through other bureaus of the department, but 
in tli it year the eh rk in charge of the files was able, after considerable 

search, to gather together much of the material that belonged in the 

Treasurer's files. The records can be said to be approximately complete 
only sine.- 1888. In addition to the losses by fire, there are official destruc- 
tion-, of papers that are considered valueless. For lists of such papers see 
S. Ex. Doc. 44, 51 ( on f?> 1 sess.; S. Rcpt. 1CH8, 53 Cong., 3 sess.; S. Doc. 
248, 55 Cong., 2 sess.; and S. Does. 117 and 3t8, 57 Cong., 1 sess. 

The records are of very greaJ < \li nt ; they are kept in the subbascment 
of the Treasury building and in the storage-building on E Street, already 
referred to (see M-il and Piles Division). The earlier records, which are 
stored in the latter place, are practically inaccessible. The method of filing 
and indexing is described l>clow under the different classes of material. 

As would be expected, the records of this office are of great importance 
to the department, and while there are comparatively few calls for the earlier 
records, those since 1808 are in almost constant use. 

I. Correspondence. 

The correspondence of the office consists of requests, inquiries, and other 
communications relative to the coins and currency of the United States, the 
receipts and disbursements of the treasury, national banks and their dealings 
with the department — in short to all the various items of business of the 
office. The proportion of letters of historical value is probably very small. 

1. Domestic letters sent, 1814-1877 (1$ vols.). 

2. Letters to the assistant treasurer of the United States at New York, 
1863-187^ (7 vols.). 

3. Letters to assistant treasurers and United States depositories, 1863-1876 

(17 vols.). 



Comptroller of the Treasury. 79 

Jf.. Letters to national banks, 1868-1877 (17 vols.). 

5. Letters sent, 1869-1906 (1$5 vols.). 

The letters sent, arranged in the five series just noted, extend no farther 
back than 1814, and those before 1863 are incomplete. The letters prior 
to 1869 were preserved in fair copies only, but after 1869 they were pre- 
served in duplicate until the custom of making fair copies was abandoned. 
The single series of letters sent from 1869 to date is composed of bound 
volumes of press copies arranged in strictly chronological order. Before 
1861 the letters sent were indexed under the names of the persons to whom 
the letters were addressed, but since that date they have been fully indexed 
under names and subjects, with cross references. In each volume of the 
press copies there is a list of the persons addressed in the letters bound 
therein. 

6. Letters received, 1791—1868 (several hundred bundles). 

These letters are arranged in an approximately chronological order and 
tied in bundles. As a series they are very incomplete and are not indexed. 

7. Letters received, 1868 to date (about 800 vols.). 

These later letters are bound in volumes by years with an alphabetical sub- 
arrangement. In an index or register of over 100 volumes are recorded 
the name and address of sender, the date, and a brief of each letter. 

II. Accounts. 

The accounts preserved in the Treasurer's files are of the following kinds : 
journals, ledgers, check stubs, certificates of deposit, transcripts from 
assistant treasurers and national banks, statements of liabilities and assets, 
reports of balances due to disbursing officers, paid transfer checks and dis- 
bursing officers' checks, redemption statements of called bonds, semi-annual 
returns from national banks, daily reports of movements of standard silver 
dollars, lists of deposits on account of warrants, receipts for minor and 
fractional silver coin redeemed, receipts for United States and national 
bank notes for redemption, etc. 

There appear to be no accounts on file prior to 1837, and those before 1860 
are very incomplete. This class of records is very great in amount and fills 
over 100 closets in the sub-basement of the Treasury building alone, there 
being much more in the E Street building. The accounts are arranged by 
the divisions of the Treasurer's office, and are rendered accessible by means 
of a finding index contained in a single volume. 

COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY. 

The office of the Comptroller of the Treasury was established in 1789 
(1 Stat. L. 65); the powers of the office were more clearly stated in 1809 



s " Treasury Department. 

(2 Stat. L. 53d). In 1S17 the designation of the office was changed to that 
of First Comptroller and the office of Second Comptroller was created 
(3 Stat. L. 866). These two officers examined and revised the accounts 
passed on by the various auditors, with the exception of the customs accounts, 
which were examined by the commissioner of customs, and the post-office 
accounts, which were < a amined by the comptrollers only in case of appeal 
from the decision of the sixth auditor. An elaborate account of the organ- 
ization, (lutit s, .iml powers of the comptrollers is printed as an appendix of 

volume 1. of the " Decisions of the First Comptroller" (H. Ex. Doc. 81, 
M ( ong.j .; teas. I. In 1804 (28 Stat L 805) the entire system of account- 
ing was reorganised and the office of the Comptroller of the Treasury took 
the place of the offices of the tirst and second comptrollers and of the com- 
missioner of customs. The Comptroller of the Treasury no longer examines 
and revises accounts; bis principal duties are: (1) to render decisions, which 
are final and binding upon the executive branch of the government, in the 
case of appeals from the action of the auditors; (2) to render decisions 
Called for by disbursing officers or heads of departments; (3) to approve, 
disapprove or modify all auditor's decisions that involve an original or 
modified construction of the statutes; (4) to prescribe the forms of keeping 
and rendering all public accounts except those of the postal service; (5) to 
direct the recovery of debts certified by the auditors to be due to the United 
States. 

The records of the comptroller's office consist of vouchers, certificates of 
adjusted accounts, correspondence, decisions, and dockets. The correspond- 
ent consists of " letters received ", of which regular files have been kept, 
and which are recorded in large index volumes, and of "letters sent", of 
which pri bs copies are kept and bound in numbered volumes, which are 
indexed. It has not been practicable to ascertain the dates at which these 
series commence. 

A regular file of the decisions of the second comptroller, from 1817 to 
1894, has been kept, in 82 manuscript volumes. This material is made 
accessible in the published " Digest of the Decisions of the Second Comp- 
troller of the Treasury", 1817 to October 1, 1894. (Washington, 18G9, 
1885, 1893, 1899, 4 vols.). 

The decisions of the first comptroller appear not to have been regularly 
preserved; such as exist are in volumes of fair or press copies. Some of 
the first comptroller's decisions have been printed: "Decisions of the First 
Comptroller in the Department of the Treasury of the United States ", 
1880-1885, by William Lawrence (Washington, 1880-1885, 5 vols.); and 
"Decisions of the First Comptroller of the Treasury", May, 1893-Sep- 
tember, 1894, by Robert B. Bowler (Washington, 1895). 

The important decisions of the comptroller, since the reorganization of 



Auditor for the Treasury Department. 81 

the office, are printed in " Decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury ", 
October, 1894-June, 1906 (Washington, 1896-1906, 12 vols.), while in 
" Digest of the Decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury ", by N. H. 
Thompson (Washington, 1902) are references to all decisions, published 
or unpublished, from October 1, 1894, to June 30, 1902. 

Since 1894 complete dockets have been kept of all requests for revision 
of auditors' settlements. There are now 26 volumes of these records and 
there is a card-index to their contents. 

Since 1897 a record has been kept of suits by and against the United 
States. The records of the former fill one volume, those of the latter, 
fourteen volumes, all of which are indexed. 

Certain classes of papers in the comptroller's office are considered value- 
less and are destroyed as such (see S. Ex. Doc. 44, 51 Cong., 1 sess. ; S. 
Doc. 246, 55 Cong., 2 sess.; S. Doc. 97, 57 Cong., 1 sess.). 

AUDITOR FOR THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT. 

In the reorganization of the accounting system, mentioned above in de- 
scribing the office of the comptroller of the treasury, the auditors' offices 
were also reorganized. From 1789 to 1817 there was one auditor; in 1817, 
four auditors were added, and in 1836 one more, making six in all. They 
were designated as first auditor, second auditor, etc. The duties of these 
officers and their legislative history are fully and clearly set forth in H. 
Rept. 49, 53 Cong., 1 sess. (pp. 31—36), and a detailed statement of their 
organization and methods of work may be found in the " Cockrell Report ", 
Sen. Rept. 507, pt. 3, 50 Cong., 1 sess.; see also " Organization and Duties 
of the Accounting Officer in the Department of the Treasury " (H. Ex. 
Doc. 81, 46 Cong., 3 sess., p. 409 ff.). 

In 1894, by the provisions of the Dockery Act (28 Stat. L. 205), the 
designations of the officers were changed as follows: that of first auditor 
to auditor for the Treasury Department; second auditor, to auditor for 
the War Department; third auditor, to auditor for the Interior Department; 
fourth auditor, to auditor for the Navy Department; fifth auditor, to 
auditor for the State and other Departments; sixth auditor, to auditor for 
the Post-Office Department. By the same act the duties of the various 
auditors were redistributed and enlarged, so that whereas prior to 1894 
an account had merely passed through an auditor's office on its way to a 
final examination in the office of one of the comptrollers, since that date 
the auditors' examinations, revisions, and decisions have been final except 
when formally appealed from, and the accounts have remained in the 
auditors' offices — in other words, single auditing has replaced the previous 
system of double auditing. For a full account of the changes made by 
7 



82 Treaawry Department. 

the act of 1894 Bee II. Bept 887, S8 Cong., S Bess., in which the old 
system is described at length, tin- new one set forth, and the reasons for 
unking the proposed changes discussed. For a resume* of the laws relating 
to the auditors' officea see Compiled Statutes. 1901 (pp. 188-179). 

The reeorda and files of the various officea were redistributed to corre- 
spond with the duties. In the following descriptions of the respective 
auditor-,' offices B St at. -nit-iit of the duties (taken from the annual reports) 
Its the character of the aduiinist rat i\ e records. Records of especial 
Value, so far :h tin y w.r. revealed in the investigation, are descrihed apart 
from the purely aduiinistrat i\e records. 

The office Of the auditor for the Treasury Department (formerly known 
as first auditor) is divided Into four divisions, the duties of which are 
as follows: 

(1) The Custom! Division examines the collection accounts of the col- 
lectors Of Customs; their accounts relative to the expenses of collecting the 
revenue from customs, the accounts of the revenue cutter service, aeeounts 

of official emoluments, debentures, refunds of duties, and miscellaneous 

disbursements, and also warehouse and bond aeeounts. 

(2) The Public Debt Division examines and settles all accounts relating 
to the payment of interest on the public debt, both registered stock, and 
COUpon bonds, Pacific Railroad bonds, payments on Spanish indemnity 
certificates, nsvy pension fund, redemption of United States bonds, redemp- 
tion of coin and currency certificates, old notes, and bounty scrip, and 

ants for notes and fractional currency destroved. 

(3) The Internal-Revenue Division has jurisdiction of the collection 
and disbursement accounts of the internal-revenue service. The accounts 
are re cei ve d through the office of the commissioner of internal revenue 
after they have been given a proper administrative examination. 

I i The .Miscellaneous Division is charged with the examination and 
settlement of all accounts of this department relating to salaries and 
contingent expenses, life-saving service, outstanding liabilities, bonded and 
land-grant railroads, mints and assay offices, construction and care of public 
buildings, the offices of the United States treasurer and assistant treasurers, 
Bureau of Engraving and Printing, independent treasury, marine-hospital 
service, and sales of old material. 

As is shown above, the records of this office include the accounts of all 
persons who have disbursed or received money under the Treasury Depart- 
ment. For a detailed classification of these accounts see the annual report 
of the auditor for the Treasury Department for 1900 (pp. 11-15), where 
are found such items as: preventing the spread of epidemic diseases, edu- 
cation of the blind, Hawaiian debt, South Carolina free schools trust-fund, 
Pan-American and other expositions, etc. The mileage accounts of mem- 



Auditor for the Treasury Department. 83 

bers of Congress prior to 1894 are on file here, as are also the warrants 
for the payments for Alaska, the Philippines, etc. The individual itemized 
accounts often throw much light on prices, rents, costs of construction, etc., 
and, especially for earlier periods, should have some interest for the stu- 
dent of economic history. 

With the exception of the Washington papers, described below, there are 
said to be no files prior to 1791. The auditor's office reported that it 
had suffered few losses of importance in the fire of January 20, 1801. At 
that time there was but one auditor, but the losses reported would appar- 
ently be divided between the present auditors for the War and Treasury 
Departments as follows: War auditor, (1) ledgers and journals of ac- 
counts settled by the late commissioner with the officers of the old quarter- 
master's and commissary's departments, (2) individual claims for services 
during the Revolution; Treasury auditor, (1) account of Thomas Claxton, 
agent for furnishing the Capitol, (2) accounts of the agents of the com- 
missioners of the direct tax in Delaware, New Hampshire, Tennessee, New 
York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts (" American State Papers, Miscel- 
laneous ", I. 241-243). Although there is no documentary evidence to 
that effect, there are said to have been losses in 1814 and 1833. Thus the 
files, though continuous from 1791, are complete only from 1833. 

In addition to these accidental losses, much material considered value- 
less is destroyed under authority of Congress (see S. Ex. Doc. 44, 51 
Cong., 1 sess. ; S. Doc. 246, 55 Cong., 2 sess.; S. Doc 97, 57 Cong., 1 sess. ; 
H. Doc. 595, 58 Cong., 2 sess.). 

The bulk of the files is very great. In the annual report of the 
auditor for 1906 (pp. 16—17) is a comparative statement of the transactions 
of the office since 1861. From this it is shown that between the reorgan- 
ization of the office in 1894, and the present time, over 600,000 accounts 
have been audited, over 260,000 certificates have been recorded, and about 
365,000 letters written. The files of the entire office are kept together 
in bundles and boxes, and at present are located in the attic and basements 
of the Treasury building, and in an outside building. They are arranged 
by various classes and chronologically under each class, and are rendered 
accessible by means of a finding index. The files, even of the earliest 
dates, are in constant use by the department. The only early records are; 
1. Washington's accounts, 1775—1784- 

These expense accounts and vouchers show Washington's table, travelling 
and other expenses between 1775 and 1784. Here may be found, for 
example, the accounts of his table expenses during the winter at Valley 
Forge and of his travelling expenses from Mt. Vernon to Philadelphia and 
return in 1784. 



84 Treasury Department. 

UTDITOH POH ill I. WAB DEPARTMENT. 

In the office i>t' the auditor Cor the War Department the Following classes 
ot iccounta are audited: ii | salaries and incidental expense! of the office 

of the Secretary <>!' War, and all bureau under his direction; ('.!) military 
HrtiMinhltimtj (3) armoriee and arsenals; (1) national cemeteries ; (5) 

fortifications ; public buildings and grounds under the chief of engi- 

neers; (7) rivers and harlx>rs; (8) soldiers' liomes; ('.)) Military Academy; 
[sthmiao (and commission ; 1.11) all otlier business within the 
jurisdiction of the War 1 >. p irtineiit. The office is divided into six divi- 
sions: | i | Civil dahns; Military claims; (.!) Paymaster's; ( i) Quarter- 
master's; ' ."■ ' l su board; snd (8) Records, In which last are brought 
ther the permanent files of the entire office. 

It will l>< seen that the records of the office arc tor the most part of two 

classes: (1) accounts of disbursements under the War Department; (2) 

accounts, pipers, <tc.. relating to claims. As illustrative of the former 

el isn in i \ be mentioned the paymasters', quartermasters', and commissary 

u.ounts, 1M7 to date, together with pay and muster-rolls (of some per- 
sonal Interest are the accounts rendered by such officers as Grant, Sheridan, 
Mrkml.y. It. E. l.rv, .Jefferson Davis, and others); accounts and rolls 
of the Western Gunboat flotilla and the Mississippi Marine Brigade; 

ters of payments to volunteer organizations during the Mexican War 
(1 vol.) and the ( i\ il War (IV vols.), etc. As illustrative of the latter 
in iv be mentioned the papers and books of the It. B. Lee Claims Com- 
mission tor the settlement of claims arising from losses of property during 
the War of l.si j; the books of the United States commission for settling 
claims againsl the United States arising from the mismanagement and 
frauds in the Department of the West in 180] and 1802 (the evidence and 
d- positions should have considerable interest); claims under the act of 
March 3, 18 1'a t :> Stat. L. 888); Pittsburgh defence claims; claims for 
the capture of Jefferson Davis (among these papers are many interesting 
and spirited narratives), etc. Letters received, as well as copies of letters 
sent, are tiled with the particular claims or accounts to which they relate. 
There are also files not properly included in either of the above classes, 
such as: a large number of loan-office bonds dating from about 171)0 or 
later, together with correspondence and certificates relating thereto; four 
volumes of muster- and pay-rolls of the Wayne and St. Clair wars, 1791— 
17!i7; letter-books of the accountant's office, 1797; rolls of friendly Indians, 
1818-1849, etc. 

It is impossible to say how complete are the records of this office. In 
the case of the quartermasters' and commissary accounts there are no 
records prior to 1817, when the auditing of such accounts was transferred 
to the office of the third auditor. Some eight volumes of Revolutionary 



Auditor for the Interior Department. 85 

accounts, which were formerly in the Records Division of this office, have 
been transferred to the Library of Congress. There is no record of any 
loss by fire save as mentioned above under auditor for the Treasury Depart- 
ment. Many papers considered valueless have been destroyed (S. Ex. 
Doc. 44, 51 Cong., 1 sess.). 

The bulk of the files is estimated at about 620 tons, covering over ten 
miles of shelving. The files are at present located in the Cox, Winder, 
E Street, and Corcoran buildings; they are being arranged as rapidly as 
possible and, for the most part, have already been so indexed as to render 
the office able to find any papers called for. 

Certain classes of this material, especially such as relate to claims, or 
to the loyalty of individuals, are regarded as confidential. 

AUDITOR FOR THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. 

The auditor for the Interior Department audits and settles all accounts 
of salaries and incidental expenses of the office of the Secretary of the 
Interior, and of all bureaus and offices under his jurisdiction, and all 
accounts relating to all other business within the jurisdiction of the De- 
partment of the Interior. 

To facilitate the dispatch of business the office is organized in four 
divisions. 

(1) In the Pensions Division are examined all accounts of agents for 
the payment of pensions for disbursements made under appropriations for 
army and navy pensions, salaries of pension agents, and all expenses of 
pension agencies, all accounts under the several pension appropriations, 
and all pension checks in cases where the payees have died without en- 
dorsing them. 

(2) In the Law Division claims for reimbursement (from accrued pensions) 
of expenses of last sickness and burial of pensioners under the act of March 
2, 1895, receive their final examination. 

(3) In the Indian Division are examined the accounts of United States 
Indian agents, special agents, inspectors, general superintendent of schools, 
superintendents of schools, supervisors of Indian schools, allotting agents, 
disbursing officers of special commissions, examiners of surveys, secretary 
of board of Indian commissioners, superintendents of Indian warehouses, 
receiving and shipping clerks, and all other accounts relating to the Indian 
service, and also all claims arising in such service, including the cost of 
goods and supplies for the agencies and schools and transportation thereof. 

(4) In the Land, Files and Miscellaneous Division are examined the 
accounts of receivers of public moneys, surveyors-general, and all other 
accounts for receipts and expenditures in the public lands service; the 



86 Treasury Department. 

accounts ot' the disbursing clerk of tlic Interior Department, and of the 
disbursing officers of the Geological Survey, the Government Hospital for 
the Insane, the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, Howard Uni- 
versi ty , and the accounts of the commissioner of patents, and of all receiving 

and disbursing officers under the jurisdiction of the Interior Department, 
exclusive of those in tin- Indian and pension service; all claims arising under 
the appropriations lor the endowment of agricultural colleges in the several 
states and territories; for refunding moneys paid for lands erroneously sold; 
for s ur v ey ing the public lands; for the reclamation of arid lands in certain 
we-tern stabs and territories; and for the payment to certain states of 
their per centum of the pr oceed s of the sales of public lands, and claims 
tor transportation and telegraph ser\ ices rendered the Interior Department 
Mid the several bureaus thereunder, except the Indian and pension offices. 

The original of the two examinations required to he made in this office of 

claims for reimbursement for expenses of the last sickness and burial of 
(Irn-iM.l pensioners has htm made in this division since April 1, 1!)05. To 
this division is also assigned the work of boxing, labelling, and arranging in 
proper order fo> preservation and convenient reference, all the public records 

Of the otliee. 

The tiles of the office are not complete, and while there is no documentary 
i \ idence of any losses by tire, both the extent of the records and the traditions 
of tin- office indicate some losses in 1814 and 1833. The pension accounts 
date from 1789, but are \< ry incomplete before 1833; the land accounts date 
from is: J, with a very few of as early date as 1817; the Indian accounts 
9eem to be fairly complete since 1819 and regular files of letters sent and 
received have been preserve d since 1849. For the papers destroyed as value- 
less see S. Ex. Doc. 44, SI Cong., 1 sess., and S. Doc. 24G, 55 Cong., 2 sess. 

It is impossible to estimate the bulk of the files; they appear to extend 
over some miles of shelving, but are not so extensive as those of the auditor 
for the War Department. They are stored in file-boxes, bound volumes and 
bundles, and although all or part of them have been moved three times in 
recent years, their arrangement is such that no serious difficulty is experi- 
enced in finding any paper called for. The card-system has been introduced 
for recording pension payments. The pension records are the ones most 
in use by the department, but the files of all classes are frequently called for. 

AUDITOR FOR THE NAVY DEPARTMENT. 

The office of the auditor for the Navy Department, now located in the 
Munsey Building, is organized in four divisions, the duties of which are as 
follows : 

( 1 ) The law clerk is, under the direction of the auditor, to keep the chiefs 



Auditor for tlie Navy Department. 87 

of division advised of the passage of all laws by Congress, and of all de- 
cisions of the Court of Claims and comptroller of the Treasury which are 
pertinent to or control the proper adjustment of claims and accounts 
pending in this office. He must make reports in all cases referred to this 
office relating to the navy and pending in the courts; report on judgments of 
the courts; answer all inquiries from Congress relating to the navy; settle 
all judgments of the courts pertaining to the navy, act of February 18, 1904 
(33 Stat. L. 41); report to the comptroller on all cases of appeal from 
decisions of the auditor, and assist the auditor in preparing decisions, making 
an original construction or modif ying an existing construction of a statute 
when requested. 

(2) In the Paymaster's Accounts Division are examined and adjusted 
the accounts of pay officers of the navy at navy-yards and stations, at the 
Naval Academy, and on vessels in commission; of the pay officers, quarter- 
masters, and commissary officers of the marine corps; of the masters of 
naval colliers, and the claims of subsidized railroads. In addition, indi- 
vidual accounts are kept of all deposits made by enlisted men of the navy 
under the provisions of the act of February 9, 1899. 

(3) The work of the Navy Pay and Allotment Division consists of the 
adjustment of the accounts of purchasing pay officers of the Navy De- 
partment stationed at the various large seaboard cities; of naval attaches 
accredited to foreign governments; of consuls acting for the Navy Depart- 
ment; of the fiscal agents of the Navy Department; of recruiting officers 
of the navy and marine corps; of agents at naval coaling stations; of the 
disbursing officer of the Navy Department, and various miscellaneous ac- 
counts and claims covering demurrage, general average, etc. In addition to 
the above, all allotments made by officers and enlisted men of the navy and 
marine corps are registered in this division, a ledger account being kept 
of each individual case, together with record of transfers and discontinuances. 
All naval contracts are registered by and are in the custody of this division. 

(4) In the Claim, Requisition, and Prize Division are considered the 
claims of the personnel of the navy and marine corps. They consist of 
applications for arrears of pay; differences of pay; pay for detention; 
bounty and prize money; extra pay for service in the Spanish war; good- 
conduct medals, bars, and pins; gratuity; mileage, travelling expenses; sub- 
sistence; commutation of quarters and rations; indemnity; additional pay 
for service in foreign waters, and deserters' and prisoners' accounts, when 
for sundry reasons disbursing officers fail to make payment. Requisitions 
for the entire naval appropriation are examined and registered in this divi- 
sion, and approved by the auditor. The files, comprising the pay and 
muster rolls of the vessels of the navy and the official papers pertaining to 
the claims and accounts settled in the office, are under the immediate super- 



Treasury Department. 

rUOOB i>t' this division, u is also the record mom. where by tlie card system, 
COrd is kept of .ill letters and papers recent d by and sent out from this 

bureau. 

As is indicated by tlie nature of tlie duties, tlie records consist of the 
regular accounts of tin- department, the accounts and correspondence relating 
to pri/i- claims, and the pay and muster-rolls of the various vessels. It is 
difficult to estimate the historical value of these records: tlie pay .and muster- 
rolls . 1 1 1 1 1 ci rt in parts ot' the correspondence would appear most likely to 
ha\. In.-, especially in the war periods, for a study of which tlie 

rnlls of such resseli as tin "Constitution", " Alert ", "Hornet", " Guer- 

m r. ". " I robe", and " M u ■< alonian " should lie of considerable interest. 

The records dale from 17:1s, hut. although then- is bo documentary cvi- 
dence of losses, there ore many gaps En the files due t>> fires (tradition as 
usuil di slgnatrs the fires of 181 v and 1888) ami to losses of vessels. Some 
papers have been de stroy ed m having do value, and lists of such may be 

found in S. 1\. Doe. M. 51 ( ong., I scss.; S. Doc. 246, 55 Cong., 2 scss., 
and H. Do. > Cong., 2 scss. 

It is impossible to estimate the hulk of these records, but it may be said 
that they consist of thousands of \olmnes. file boxes, etc. The pay and 

muster rolls ore arranged alphabetically by the names of the vessels and 

Chronologically for each reSSeL A list giving dates and names of vessels, 
eiiuiin an.hrs. and paymasters has been made of the earlier vessels wbose rolls 
an on til.-, and may be consulted in the office. The account-books and corre- 
spondence an lihd in chronological order, and an office-index seems to make 
the material satisfactorily accessible to the officials in charge. 

IUDITOB I OK THE STATE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS. 

The office of the auditor for the State and other departments is organized 
in three divisions, the duties of which are as follows: 

(1) To the Diplomatic and Consular Division are assigned for examina- 
tion and settlement all accounts of salaries and incidental expenses of the 
office of the Secretary of State, and of all bureaus and offices under his direc- 
tion ; also all accounts relating to the diplomatic and consular service and all 
commissions and conferences formed by international law or agreement. In 
this division all treasury fee returns of consular officers are verified by the 
monthly abstracts of invoices made by collectors of customs, in pursuance of 
section 2855 of the Revised Statutes. There are also examined all requisi- 
tions in payment of the expenses of the Department of State, and of all 
drafts drawn on the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury 
by ambassadors, envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary, min- 
isters resident, commissioners, charges d'affaires, agents, secretaries of lega- 
tions, consuls-general, and consuls. 



Auditor for the State Department. 89 

(2) The Division of Judicial Accounts settles all accounts pertaining to 
the Department of Justice, viz. : salaries, fees, and expenses of marshals; 
pay of bailiiFs; support of prisoners; pay of jurors; pay of witnesses; miscel- 
laneous expenses; district attorneys; assistant district attorneys; clerks of 
all United States courts; United States commissioners, and rent of court 
rooms; also the disbursing clerk's accounts for salaries of the Department 
of Justice; furniture and repairs; books for the library of the department, 
books for the office of the solicitor; stationary; transportation; miscellaneous 
items; pay of regular assistant attorneys; prosecution of crimes; defending 
suits in claims against the United States; defense in Indian depredation 
claims ; punishing violations of intercourse acts and frauds ; repairs to the 
court-house, Washington, D. C; miscellaneous expenses of United States 
courts; salaries and expenses of the Spanish claims commission; defending 
suits before the Spanish claims commission; insular and territorial affairs, 
Department of Justice; salaries of district judges; salaries and expenses 
of the courts of the District of Columbia; salaries of justices, etc., of the 
Supreme Court, circuit court of appeals, circuit and district judges, judges, 
etc., of the Court of Claims and retired judges; salary of the commissioner 
of Yellowstone National Park; salaries of governors of territories of Arizona, 
New Mexico, Oklahoma, Alaska, and Hawaii; salaries of district attorneys 
and their assistants, and of marshals and their office deputies; salary and 
expenses of the reporter of the Supreme Court ; United States penitentiaries 
at Atlanta, Georgia, Leavenworth, Kansas, and McNeil Island, Washington; 
building, Department of Justice; salary of the clerk of the district court, 
northern district of Illinois, and care of rented buildings. Also, all judg- 
ments of the courts against the United States upon claims within the juris- 
diction of this office, including French spoliation claims allowed and awards 
by the Spanish claims commission, are settled upon certificates prepared by 
this division. 

(3) To the Miscellaneous Division are assigned for settlement all acounts 
accruing in the Department of Agriculture and its bureaus, the Executive 
Office, the Senate, the House of Representatives, Smithsonian Institution, 
Civil Service Commission, Interstate Commerce Commission, Department of 
Commerce and Labor, Government Printing Office (including the construc- 
tion of the new building), Library of Congress; all accounts for salaries, 
contingent and legislative expenses in the several territories; all accounts 
relating to the government of the District of Columbia, and all boards, com- 
missions, and establishments of the government not within the jurisdiction 
of any of the executive departments. 

The records of this office, as is indicated by the nature of its duties, 
have historical value only incidentally. The diplomatic accounts when 
itemized are of some interest for the information thev contain about ex- 



90 Treasury Department, 

pens, •>. prices, etc. Some rolls of tin- Caviise w VH, which were on file here, 

have been transferred bo tin- adjutant-general's office, in tin- War Depart- 
ment The records .ire kept in file boxes, bandies, and bound volumes, and 
OOTer, it .in approximate estimate, several thousand fed of shelving. Since 
1894 all paper! have been given numbers and (ileal in numerical order, hut 
before tleit date they were variously arranged. By means of an index or 
finding list the accounts of any particular person can he readily located. 
The papers prior to 1S7."> are said to he seldom used by the department 
Carbon copies are made of all typewritten letters, which, together with form 
letters, m also pn ss copied. The carbon copies are filed with the accounts 
to which the 1. Iters relate and the press copies are hound in volumes and 
filed. A large proportion of all the letters received refer to .accounts and 
are tiled with said accounts when settled. Other letters receivd arc filed 

•ling to a system combining alphabetical, chronological and subject 
classifications. This system N designed principally to serve the needs of 
current work and do. s not involve permanent classification hy scries. A 
large percentage of such letters arc eventually destroyed as useless. The 
hound volumes of letters sent, that are press copied, of course preserve in 
permanent form whatever replies arc made to all letters received. 

The files arc said not to antedate 181 i; some arc thought, though there is 
no documentary evidence of the fact, to hive been destroyed in the fire of 
that year. lor lists of papers that have been destroyed as valueless see 
8. 1 K. Doc. l t. .".! ( ong., 1 scss., and EL Doc. 595, !>H Cong., 2 sess. 

ATJDFFOH FOB THE POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 

The position of the Auditor for the Post-Office Department differs some- 
what from that of the other auditors. He is, in a sense, auditor, comptroller, 
and register, certifying the balances due direct to the Postmaster-General 
insti -Ml of to the Treasury Department His decisions are final unless an 
appeal to the comptroller be taken within one year; he superintends the 
collecting of penalties and of money due the United States for the service 
of the Post-Office Department, and in case of suits he has direct official 
relations with the Department of Justice; he receives and accepts, with the 
written consent of the Postmaster-General, offers of compromise, and is the 
legal custodian of all contracts of the Post-Office Department. 

The general character of the records of this office is suggested by the 
detailed lists of duties given below under the different divisions of the office. 
It is difficult to form an estimate of the value of these records, but probably 
the ledger accounts with the various post-offices have the greatest value, 
especially for local history. While there are some few records dating from 
1776 and certain series are complete from 1789, the greater part of the 



Auditor for the Post-Office Department. 91 

material does not antedate the establishment of the office in 1836, and the 
material in most of the series is considered of so little importance that it 
is destroyed from time to time and only current volumes or files are pre- 
served (22 Stat. L. 228; 28 Stat. L. 107; 30 Stat. L. 317; S. Rept. 1048, 
53 Cong., 3 sess. ; and S. Doc. 246, 55 Cong., 2 sess.). Losses by fire were 
sustained in December, 1836 (H. Rept. 134, 24 Cong., 2 sess.). The cur- 
rent files are kept in the Post-Office Building; the others, several thousand 
volumes, are stored in various places about the city. 

Office of the Auditor. 

The files of the office of the auditor, including those of the auditor and 
deputy-auditors, the chief clerk, the law clerk, and the disbursing clerk are 
of slight value. The chief clerk has charge of all division correspondence, 
and the record of attendance of clerks and employees ; and prepares requisi- 
tions for supplies, excepting those affecting the appropriations for the 
bureau. The law clerk has charge of all civil suits instituted for the col- 
lection of amounts due the Post-Office Department; the submission to the 
comptroller of all cases requiring his action; the consideration of offers of 
compromise of claims under sections 295 and 409, Revised Statutes ; and the 
giving of legal advice in all matters pertaining to the work of the bureau. 
The disbursing clerk has charge of the preparation of pay-rolls and of dis- 
bursement of appropriations for the salaries of officers and employees of 
the bureau. , 

The files are in charge of the second deputy-auditor and the chief clerk, 
and consist only of current records, most of the papers prior to about 1890 
having been destroyed. The series at present on file are as follows: 
Auditor's letter-boohs, January, 1890, to date (25 vols.); Error-books, 1900 
to date (2 vols.); Law clerk's letter-books, 1885 to date (45 vols., complete 
series); Record of cases of violations of postal laws, 1887 to date (9 vols., 
complete series); Chief clerk's records, 1890 to date (25 vols.), being re- 
ports of time and work, efficiency books, bills, roll-books, etc. 

Bookkeeping Division". 

The Bookkeeping Division keeps the general ledger accounts of the 
postal service and an individual account with each postmaster and mail con- 
tractor, in a card system but recently inaugurated; registers Postmaster- 
General's transfer drafts and all warrants drawn for transporting the mails, 
expenses of rural free delivery, purchase of supplies, and miscellaneous ex- 
penses of the postal service; prepares the quarterly and annual reports of 
receipts and expenditures ; receives and settles postal accounts of postmasters, 
postal depositories, and the disbursing clerk of the Post-Office Department; 



92 Trcusurii Department. 

prepare! certificates of vouchers for the consideration of tin- Postmaater- 
( reneraL 

The prim-ip il aeries of the recorda of tliis division .-in- complete from the 
beginning of the government md are listed below; man; of the subordinate 
teriee ire destroyed -it Interval! aa valueless because they merely duplicate 
Information contain. «1 in other placea and hence -ire not included in tliis 
•uiount. A mamneript I n ve n tory of the fllea, prepared by I- T. Squire, can 

1 . consulted in the office of tin' division. 

/. ledgers, series 11 to (}, A in S. 1?!'', to date (OOST XfiOO vols.). 

This leries of ledgers is complete, the volumes prior to 1794 being in the 
Post Office kfnsenm. From 1886 to IMS, Ledgers and journals wen- re- 
placed bj Etetarna of postmasters (see below). Sine.- L 842 the accounts have 
\ irmnsiv subdivided, and tour separate series of ledgers are now kept: 
Postmasters' accounts, K^t t.> date; Contractors' accounts, 1882 to date; 
Late postmasters' ace onnta , 1888 to date; Late contractors' accounts, 1885 
t,, ante. From 1848 to 1880 s combined series, A to O, of Lite postmasters' 

and contractors' accounts was kept. Among the accounts is that of Abraham 
Lincoln as postmaster at New Salem, Illinois. 

.'. Journal*, series H to (J. A to <>. l-ii. 1790 t» date {160 vole.). 

The earliest journals are in the Pest-Office Museum. This scries lacks 
only the volumes for 1886 1848, replaced by Returns of postmasters for 
those sears (see below). The journals contain miscellaneous accounts, 
which are transferred to the ledgers. 
3. Returns of postmasters, 1836-18]$. 

Thes< replace ledgers and journals for the first six years after the estab- 
lishment of the auditor's otlice. 
J,. Registers of postmasters' quarterly returns, 1801-1891 {8,195 vols.). 

Discontinued in 1801 J same information in ledgers of postmasters' ac- 
counts. 

5. Registers of pat/ of letter-carriers, 1881 to date. 
Series complete. 

6. Registers of pay of railway postal clerks, 1881). to date. 
Series complete. 

7. Registers of disbursements by postmasters, 1893 to date. 

These are in several series: Railway postal clerks, 1893 to date; City letter- 
carriers, 1890 to date; Assistant Postmasters and clerks in first-class and 
second-class post-offices, 1898 to date; Rural letter-carriers, 1902 to date. 

8. Registers of Postmaster-General's drafts (transfer), 1886 to date (over 

100 vols.). 
Series complete. 

9. Registers of auditor's drafts (collection), 1836 to date. 



Auditor for the Post-Office Department. 93 

Collecting Division". 

The Collecting Division reviews the postal accounts in which differences 
are found by the Bookkeeping Division, collects balances due from and pays 
balances due to postmasters on postal accounts, keeps a record of all 
changes of postmasters and the establishment and discontinuance of post- 
offices, has charge of postal files for accounts of individual postmasters, and 
conducts its correspondence. 

1. Change books of postmasters and post-offices, 1836 to date {84- vols.). 
These record changes in postmasters and in location or name of post-offices. 

Though the series commences in 1836, many entries are of earlier date. 

2. Balance boohs, 1886-1898 {98 vols.). 

This series shows balances due to and from postmasters, and the method 
of closing the accounts. The ledgers contain the same information in 
another form, and the series has been discontinued. Some entries earlier 
than 1836 are to be found in the first volume. 

Foreign Division. 

The Foreign Division adjusts and settles postal and money-order accounts 
with foreign countries, verifies all lists of money-orders certified for pay- 
ment in foreign countries and all lists received from foreign countries of 
orders certified for payment in the United States, settles accounts of steam- 
ship companies for transportation of mails, and conducts the correspondence 
connected with the above duties. The principal series of records are as 
follows. 

1. General postal accounts with foreign countries: ledgers, 1888 to date 

{5 vols.). 

2. International money-order ledgers, 1869 to date. 

There are one or more volumes for each country with which the United 
States has money-order conventions. The series is complete, the earliest 
accounts being those with Switzerland. 
8. Ocean mail transportation, October, 1868— June, 1898 {56 vols.). 

Records of mail sent to and received from foreign countries, continued 
in various current series. 

J/.. General accounts with steamship companies for carrying mails, 1891^ to 
date {8 vols.). 

5. Contracts with steamship companies, 1891 to date. 

6. Letters received, 1868 to date {11 vols.). 

7. Letters sent, 1876 to date {75 vols.). 



94 Treasury Department. 

P\v Division. 

The Pay Division adjusts and reports to the Postmaster-General for pay- 
ment ill accounts for transportation of mails, audits accounts of post-office 
InspectorSj superintendents and assistant superintendents of the Railway 

Mail Service; and audits .sundry miscellaneous accounts including those for 

post office supplies. The principal series of records <>t' the Ray Division 

■ire as follow ., : 

/. Star service ji.n/ books, 1886 to dale {1,700 vols.). 

These are Indexed in the front bo 1864; from 1S.1I- to (late a separate 
indeXj in ore* 800 rohnaetj has been Kept. 

ft Railroad pay boohs, \87\ to date | 180 nils.). 

Indexed in the volumes. 
8. Cam tnuts. 1898 to date >ls.). 

In 1800 the !•"> volumes prior to July 1, lS.;r,, were destroyed. 
,'. I'ostmaster-Cieneral's pre fe r s for fines and deductions, IS, r i..' to date (100 

Is.), 
ft Warrants, 1886 to date | 9ftOO homes). 

An import int class of files, being the final record of all payments. 
Postmaster (icnend's drafts, 187J t to date (J/50 bundles). 
These originate in the Collecting Division, but are filed in the Pay 
I )i\ ision. 

;. Register of disbursements, 1889-1906 (23 vols.). 

Amount spent for post office supplies; now kept by the card-system. 

8. Salaries and allowances of railway mail superintendents and post-office 

inspectors, 1880-100G (8 vols.). 
Now kept by the card system. 

9. Register of advertisements, 1853-1906. 

Now kept by card-system with original advertisements. 

10. Register of mail messenger service, 1857-1891 (82 vols.). 

11. Antebellum pay-books, 1858-1861 (45 vols.). 

These have been segregated for use in settling claims for service rendered 
the United States in southern states between January 1, 1861, and May 31, 
1801, when the Confederate Post-Office Department assumed charge of its 
own mails. The Confederate Post-Office archives listed below are useful 
in the same connection. 

12. Confederate post-office records. 

(1) One bound volume of miscellaneous printed Confederate postal docu- 
ments, including reports of John H. Reagan to Jefferson Davis, April 29, 
1816 (44 pp.), November 27, 1861 (66 pp.), February 28, 1862 (57 pp.), 
January 12, 1863 (24 pp., with tables), February 12, 1863 (11 pp.), De- 



Auditor for the Post-Office Department. 95 

cember 7, 1863 (34 pp.), May 2, 1864 (19 pp.), November 7, 1864 (21 pp.) ; 
advertisement, December 31, 1862, for Virginia mails, from July 1, 1863, 
to June 30, 1867 (60 pp.); advertisement, December 31, 1862, for Florida, 
Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina mails (102 pp.) ; advertisement, 
January 31, 1862, for Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee mails from 
July 1, 1862, to June 30, 1866 (96 pp.); Act of August 30, 1861, ch. 59; 
Act of September 27, 1862, ch. 16; communication, March 6, 1863, to 
Committee on Post-Office, House of Representatives, Confederate Congress, 
regarding East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad (6 pp.) ; correspondence 
between Reagan and the President of the Virginia Central Railroad Com- 
pany, Richmond, 1864 (25 pp.). This volume was transferred from the 
War Department, being part of the captured archives of the Confederate 
government. A large number of Confederate post-office records are still 
in the archives of the War Department. 

(2) "Register of Reports" from October 14, 1861, to April 1, 1865, of 
amounts paid for mail transportation and miscellaneous expenses of the 
Post-Office Department. This volume, together with the others listed below, 
was purchased in 1893 from private persons under authority of Congress. 
These records are part of those carried out of Richmond at its evacuation, 
April, 1865, by Henry St. George Offut, chief of the Contract Bureau, 
Confederate Post-Office Department, and by him deposited with the post- 
master at Chester Court House, South Carolina. The history of the pur- 
chase is given in a report in the front of this " Register " (see also S. Ex. 
Doc. 7, 51 Cong., 2 sess., and H. Repts. 13,462 and 2,191, 51 Cong., 2 sess.). 
The book was much mutilated while in private hands, having been used as 
a copybook by children. Data are missing for January 6—17, January 
29— February 8, and October 4-November 1, 1862. In different places in 
the book sheets have been torn out, but the remaining memoranda have 
been found of great service in settling claims. The record of payments for 
mail transportation between those dates has been copied in a separate book, 
filed with the original. 

(3) " Record of letters and other communications from the Post-Office 
Department of the Confederate States, John H. Reagan, Pastmaster- 
General." 

Title on p. 53; the preceding pages contain a mutilated index. This is 
Reagan's letter-book, October 12, 1863, to April 1, 1865, beginning where 
letter-book no. 1 (now in the Manuscripts Division, Library of Congress) 
ends, and continuing to the fall of Richmond. Besides letters, the volume 
contains the originals of Post-Office Department reports; it is somewhat 
mutilated, but the contents are practically complete. 

(4) Mail contracts in South Carolina, from 1863. 

Shows mail-contract routes, names of contractors, and compensation for 
services. 



96 Treasury Deportment. 

(5) Postage stain]) and envelope accounts, 

(n\i^ names of offices, comity, and names of postmasters. The book is 
ready ("or data, but comparatively few entries have been made, 
(o) Record of dead Letters. 

Much mutilated, but contains main entries. 

(") Register of postage stamps sent. 

Much mutilated; only a few pages remain. 



COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL UKVENUE. 
The office of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue was established in 

1862; its duties are divided among eleven divisions, but all the records and 

files are kept together in the Appointments Division. The files consist prin- 
cipally of reports made on prescribed forms by the agents, and of corre- 
spondence, and should be of value for statistical purposes and for illustrating 

the policy of the administration of tlir internal revenue laws. The decisions 
and eireul in of t li< ofli<e are published in part : " Decisions Published by the 
Office of Internal Revenue to January, 1871 " (Washington, 1 87 1 ) ; "Com- 
pilation of Decisions rendered by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue", 
December, I8H8 DecemWr, 1 S*.»;», volumes I., II. (Washington, 1H!»!), 1900) 
continued as " Decisions under Internal Revenue Laws of the United 

States", Decem b er, 1899-December, 1808, volumes III.-VI. (Washington, 
1901—1904 ; I oUectum of Circulars and Specials issued by the Office of 
Interna] Revenue" to January 80, 1882 (Washington, 1871, 1874, 1882, 
S vols.); " Collection of Circulars, Specials, Decisions, and Circular Letters 
issued by the Office of Internal Revenue, June 22, 1874— January 30, 1882 " 
■hington, 1882); " Digest of the Decisions and Regulations made by 
the Commissioner of Interna] Revenue . . . June 13, 1898, to December 
81, 1804" (Washington, 1805). 

The files of the office extend from 1 802, with the addition of a few early 
records of the years 1 7!>0— 1 808. There are no recorded accidental losses, 
but there have been extensive authorized destructions of files supposed to 
have no value (S. Doc. 44, 51 Cong., 1 sess. ; S. Rept. 1048, 53 Cong., 3 Bess. ; 
S. Doc. 240, 55 Cong., 2 sess.; S. Doc. 97, 57 Cong., 1 sess.; H. Doc. 595, 
58 Cong., 2 sess.). 

The bulk of the files is very great: in 1903 they occupied about 20,000 
cubic feet of space and were accumulating at the rate of 2,250 cubic feet 
a year. They are stored in several rooms on the fourth floor of the Treasury 
building, and are so arranged by numerical and alphabetical systems in 
bound volumes, file-boxes, and bundles that any paper called for can at once 
be found. The correspondence and reports are regarded as confidential 
(13 Stat. L. 238), and in general it may be said that the files of this office 



Commissioner of Internal Revenue. 97 

since 1862 are not accessible for purposes of investigation. Permission to 
use them might, however, be granted by the commissioner in certain cases 
where the material to be examined has only historical interest. 

I. Early Records. 

1. Letters from the commissioner of the revenue, 1790—1808 (7 vols., fair 

copies). 
The letters of the commissioner relate largely to practical questions con- 
cerning the administration of the internal-revenue laws. There are letters 
bearing on the Whiskey Insurrection of 1794, but they are of slight im- 
portance, discussing such questions as whether lawfully distilled spirits can 
be obtained for the army, etc. The letters are chronologically arranged, 
and in each volume is an index to the names of the recipients. 

2. List of collectors of the revenue, 1803 (1 vol.). 

S. Internal-revenue bonds, 1813—1818 {1 vol.). 

North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Indiana, Illinois, 
Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, District of Columbia. 

If. Boston tax lists, 181£ {3 small vols.). 

List of taxable property in wards three and eight of Boston (Eleventh 
District of Massachusetts), " giving houses, size, size of lots, material of 
which constructed, and valuation ". 

II. Records since 1862. 
Reports. 

The reports of agents are made on prescribed forms, of which there are 
about a thousand different kinds. For a List of these forms, which would 
also show the exact character of the reports, see " Catalogue of Blanks and 
Books and Laws and Regulations, prepared for the use of officers of Internal 
Revenue, No. 155. Revised 1901. U. S. Int. Rev." 
Correspondence. 

1. Letters received, 1862 to date (several thousand file-boxes). 

(a) Collectors' letters. 

(b) Official letters. 

Correspondence with all officers of the Treasury Department except 
collectors. 

(c) Miscellaneous letters. 

Correspondence with all persons outside the Treasury Department. 

2. Letters sent, 1862 to date (about 2,000 vols.). 

These letters are classified in the same way as letters received. 

8 



98 Treasury Department. 

COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY. 

The Comptroller of the Currency exercises supervision over the national 
banks, their organisation, and the issue and redemption of their notes, and 
examines and consolidates their reports. The records of this office are com- 
plete since its establishment in 180>.'? (18 Stat. L. GG5), but are not accessible, 
being regarded as confidential. All letters received and sent are filed. 
Letters from national hanks are filed in chronological order under the 
charter numbers of the associations. Letters from individuals are filed in 
alphabetical order. Letters sent are press copied in volumes in various 
series, each division of the office maintaining one or more scries. The 
statistics and information of most value are printed in the annual reports 
of thi' comptroller of the currency. For the destruction of papers considered 
of no value set S. l'.x. Due. II. ."> I Cong., 1 sess. ; S. Rept. 1048, 53 Cong., 
3 sess.; S. Doc. !>7 . 57 Cong., 1 sess.; and H. Doc. 595, 58 Cong., 2 sess. 

BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING. 

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing designs and engraves United 
States notes, bonds, and certificates; postage, customs, and internal-revenue 
stamps; treasury drafts and cheeks; commissions, national-bank notes, 
licenses, patent and pension certificates, etc. For information about the 
origin of the bureau see " Report to the Secretary of the Treasury from 
the First Division, National Currency Bureau", by S. M. Clark, November 
26, 1864, in II. Ex. Doc. 50, 38 Cong., 2 sess. Its records are those of a 
large business establishment and can hardly be said to have any historical 
value. They consist of accounts and statistics, printed summaries of which 
■ire to be found in the annual reports of the bureau, and of correspondence, 
and they are complete since 1800, with the exception of such papers as have 
been officially destroyed (S. Ex. Doc. 44, 51 Cong., 1 sess.; S. Rept. 1048, 
53 Cong., 3 sess.; S. Doc. 24G, 55 Cong., 2 sess.; S. Doc. 97, 57 Cong., 1 
sess.; and H. Doc. 595, 58 Cong., 2 sess.). The set of "models" (ap- 
proved designs for stamps, notes, etc.), though not complete, is of interest. 
The correspondence is classified as follows: 

1. Letters sent. 

(a) Leaves of absence. 

(6) Purchase of supplies, etc. 

(c) Business of the office. 

2. Letters received. 

(a) Official, relating to the business of the office. 

(6) Miscellaneous, relating to the purchase of supplies, etc. 

These letters are arranged alphabetically under each year and are regis- 



Office of the Supervising Architect. 99 

tered in an index which gives the names and addresses of senders and 
recipients with briefs of the letters. 



BUREAU OF THE MINT. 

The records and correspondence of the Bureau of the Mint are concerned 
with the general supervision of all mints and assay offices, the examination 
of their accounts and daily reports, special investigations of the manner in 
which they are conducted, and appointments and removals within them. The 
records from 1849 to date are on file in this office, but are incomplete prior 
to 1873, while all records prior to 1849 are in Philadelphia. For lists of 
the papers destroyed as valueless see S. Doc. 246, 55 Cong., 2 sess.; S. Doc. 
97, 57 Cong., 1 sess.; and H. Doc. 595, 58 Cong., 2 sess. 

SECRET SERVICE DIVISION. 

The work of the Secret Service Division is chiefly concerned with the 
detection of counterfeiting and of other frauds and crimes against the gov- 
ernment. In time of war the work is somewhat extended; during the war 
with Spain, for example, the secret service broke up the Spanish system of 
espionage. The annual reports of the division contain resumes of its work 
from year to year. The Secret Service Division was not established as a 
distinct division in the Treasury Department until 1865. There had been 
a secret service since 1861, however, and from 1862 to 1865 it was organized 
under the State Department, but the records of the present division do not 
antedate 1865. The records consist for the most part of the correspondence 
with the agents and their daily reports, and are not accessible for purposes 
of investigation except in certain cases where the necessity for secrecy no 
longer exists. The letters received are numbered consecutively in the order 
of their receipt, and indexed alphabetically, at first in record books, but now 
on cards. The record of letters received and sent dates from 1867. Certain 
papers have been destroyed as valueless: see S. Eept. 1048; 53 Cong., 3 sess.; 
and S. Doc. 246, 55 Cong., 2 sess. fClV ^ J, "»•' ^ - ^T^UJ 

OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT. 

In 1853 the Secretary of the Treasury organized a Division of Construc- 
tion, and an officer of the engineer corps of the Army was detailed as its 
head. In 1864 (13 Stat. L. 27) the office of Supervising Architect was 
created by Congress. The duties of this officer comprise the selection and 
purchase of sites for all buildings under the Treasury Department; the pro- 
curing of cessions of jurisdiction over these sites from the various states; 

t-OFC. 



■2Z 



100 Treasury Department. 

the making of plans and estimates for the buildings (custom-houses, mints, 
marine hospitals, court-houses, post-offices, quarantine stations, etc.); the 
superintendence of their construction; and the maintenance of buildings 
outside the District of Columbia. For further details as to the history and 
Functions of this office Bee Lamphere's "United States Government" (pp. 
78 ".'»). or "The Government Construction Bureau", by .'. K. Taylor, in 
the " Philadelphia Record" July 18, 1908, |>. 6). "A History of Public 
Buildings under the Control of the Treasury Department (exclusive of 
Marine Hospitals and Quarantine Stations)", compiled by W. II. Hills 

and .1. A. Sutherland (Washington. 1908), contains photographs and his- 
tories of the buildings creeled by the Treasury Department. 

The records of most interest are those in the Law and Records Division, 
where the contracts are drawn up. the various legal questions, including those 
Connected with the State cessions of jurisdiction, arc passed upon, and the 
record of all mail received or sent is kept. The records are fairly complete 
from 1858, hut only those since 1890 are so arranged and cared for as to 
be readily accessible. For lists of the papers which have been destroyed as 
being valueless see S. Ex. Doc. 1 l, 51 Cong., 1 scss.; S. Doc. 'Jh;. 55 Cong., 
2 sess. ; and II. Doc. 595, 58 Cong., i sess. 

BUREAU OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND MARINE-HOSPITAL SERVICE. 

The duties of the Surgeon-General of the Public Health and Marine- 
Hospital Service include the supervision of the marine hospitals and other 

relief stations of the sen ice; the physical examination of applicants for 
pilot's licenses, of seamen, and of candidates for enlistment and promotion 
in the revenue-cutter and life-saving services; the regulation of the national 
and interstate quarantine services; the medical inspection of alien immi- 
grants; the supervision of the sanatorium for consumptives at Fort Stanton, 
New Mexico, of the leprosy experiment station on the Island of Molokai, 
and of the hygienic laboratory in Washington ; the calling of conferences 
of state and territorial health and quarantine officers; the enforcement of 
the act of July 1, 1902, to regulate the sale of viruses, serums, etc.; and 
the publication of the annual reports of the service, the volumes of " Vital 
Statistics ", the weekly " Public Health Reports of the United States ", and 
the " Bulletins " of the hygienic laboratory and of the Yellow Fever Insti- 
tute. Historical accounts of the service are contained in the annual reports 
of the surgeon-general for 1872 and 1893. The service was established in 
1798 (1 Stat. L. 005) but the present bureau was not organized until 1870 
(1G Stat. L. 1G9). The work of the service from year to year is set forth 
at some length in the annual reports. Regular files of letters received, and 
of copies of letters sent have been preserved in the bureau since 1872. Lists 



Life-saving Service. 101 

of papers destroyed as useless are in S. Ex. Doc. 44, 51 Cong., 1 sess. ; S. 
Doc. 246, 55 Cong., 2 sess.; S. Doc. 97, 57 Cong., 1 sess.; and H. Doc. 595, 
58 Cong., 2 sess. 

LIFE-SAVING SERVICE. 

The Life-Saving Service in its present organization dates from 1878 (20 
Stat. L. 163), but it has distinct and separate records from 1873 to date. 
Early correspondence and papers relating to the service may be found in 
the Mail and Files Division, particularly among the files of the revenue-cutter 
service. The files of the office of the general superintendent of the life- 
saving service comprise: (1) property-returns and other accounts connected 
with the maintenance of the various stations, and (2) correspondence, in 
which are included the reports of the life-saving stations and considerable 
matter of historical interest, particularly with reference to the development 
of the service since the present system was inaugurated, and more or less 
important matter relating to the early measures taken in this country for 
the preservation of life and property on ship-wrecked vessels. 

The work of the service from year to year, especially in its more pic- 
turesque aspects, is somewhat fully narrated in the annual reports of the 
general superintendent. The records are for the most part classified under 
the two headings of " letters sent " and " letters received " and are com- 
plete since 1873, except for such papers as have been officially destroyed 
(S. Ex. Doc. 44, 51 Cong., 1 sess.; S. Doc. 246, 55 Cong., 2 sess.). The 
letters are filed according to a numerical system and are fully indexed and 
briefed. Portions of the records are inaccessible, being regarded as con- 
fidential. 



102 Department of War. 



DEPARTMENT OF WAR. 

The history of the War Department and of its various bureaus has been 
dealt with at some length in a nuinher of works. The most recent of these 
is the " Legislative History of the General Staff of the Army of the United 
States, 177.-. [901 " (Washington, 1901, S. Doc. 229, 50 Cong., 2 sess.). 
This is aa official publication, compiled by Raphael P. Thian; it is com- 
posed of extracts from the Journals of Congress, the Statutes at Large, 
and the Revised Statutes, which set forth the legislative history of the 
various Staff departments and minor bureaus, while, as a preface to each 
office, there is given ■ brief resume of its history with a list of the persons 
who have held it. la " Military Laws of the United States" (Washington, 
1901, II. Doe. 545, 56 Cong., 2 sess., with "Supplement", 1904), are 
compiled the existing laws relating to each office of the War Department, 
and summaries of the legislative history of the staff offices are added. Of 
the older histories the second part of T. H. S. Hamersly's "Army Register, 
177'.i IS7!» " (Washington, 1880) is the best. A second edition brings the 
history to 1887, but the references below arc to the first. This work con- 
tains somewhat detailed legislative histories of the staff departments with 
full accounts of their work; it also contains a general sketch of the organ- 
ization and administration of the War Department from 1770, by William 
A. DeCaindry, which is also to be found in Senate Report 555 (45 Cong., 
3 sess.) on the reorganization of the Army. From this report as well as 
from the " Compilation of Official Documents illustrative of the Organization 
of the Army of the United State, from 1789 to 1870 " (Washington, 1870), 
and "The Army of the United States", edited by T. F. Rodenbough and 
W. L. Haskins (New York, 1890), which contains histories of the staff 
departments, may be drawn a large amount of valuable material relating to 
the history of the department and of its bureaus. L. D. Ingersoll's " His- 
tory of the War Department" (Washington, 1879) is sketchy and unsatis- 
factory. The " Cockrell Report " (S. Rept. 507, part 3, 50 Cong., 1 sess.) 
and the additional report of 1889 (S. Rept. 3, special sess., bound in vol- 
ume II, of S. Repts., 50 Cong., 2 sess.) contain a vast amount of detailed 
information about the kinds and methods of work in the various bureaus of 
the War Department, but the changes in organization since the date of that 
report have been so many that it cannot be depended upon for information 
relating to the classes of records likely to be found in the respective bureaus 
at present. Of registers, the latest is the " Historical Register and Dictionary 
of the United States Army, 1789-1903", by Francis B. Heitman (2 vols., 



Department of War. 103 

H. Doc. 446, 57 Cong., 2 sess., not official). This contains lists of wars, 
battles, campaigns, military events, etc., as well as the lists of officers, but 
has no historical account of the department. The various editions of " Army 
Regulations " (that for 1904 is the latest edition) while not historical, con- 
tain much information relating to the records of the department, inasmuch 
as they prescribe the duties of the various offices and the different kinds of 
records to be kept, as well as the methods of keeping them; the annual 
reports of the department and its offices and bureaus contain much valuable 
information as to the workings of the department from year to year, and not 
infrequently contain detailed accounts of certain classes of records. Finally 
there are a number of separate histories of the respective bureaus of the 
department, most of which are referred to below. The above somewhat 
long bibliographical note, relating to the history and duties of the depart- 
ment, is included because of the light that the works mentioned throw, 
though often indirectly, upon the various classes of records in the de- 
partment. 

More direct information relating to the archives in the War Department 
is to be found in many of the annual reports of the various offices, as already 
noted, and in Winsor's "America" (VII. 413); but especially in a unique 
publication entitled " Lists of the Records and Files of the War Depart- 
ment " (Washington, 1890). This volume of 115 pages, exclusive of the 
index, contains a brief statement of the duties of each office and division, 
a list of the clerks employed therein, and a list of the records and files pre- 
served there. This list is presumably complete and accurate, although a 
few minor errors were discovered in the special examination made for this 
report; it was called for by War Department circular of May 14, 1889, and 
was compiled within ten days ; hence it is possible that some few records may 
have been overlooked. Some of the lists furnished are detailed, specific, 
and informing; others give but little information, and few if any are de- 
scriptive. The titles of volumes or of classes of files frequently throw but 
little light on their real character or value. Possibly the greatest value 
of this publication is that it shows definitely the dates on which the various 
classes of records commenced, and gives an idea of the bulk of the material 
in 1889; it cannot however be used as a guide at the present time, inasmuch 
as the most valuable of the records there listed have been consolidated in 
the adjutant-general's office and have been entirely rearranged. Further- 
more the volume of the files has greatly increased and in all the offices the 
method of preserving and recording them has been radically changed. 
The principal use made of it in the preparation of this report has been to 
supplement the information obtained from a personal examination. 

Much important material contained in the files of the War Department 
has been printed; more particular mention of this published material is made 



104 Department of War. 

below under those offices the files of which have been to any considerable 
extent so treated. The publications of the War Department to 1881 are 
listed in S. Ex. Doc. 17. 17 Cong., 1 sess. ; additional publications are noted 
in " Subject Catalogue No. i ". War Department Library, while the annual 
reports of the Government Printing Office contain lists of the documents 
printed for the War Department. 

As is noted below, the greater part of the records of the department that 
are of historical value have been placed in the adjutant-general's office; there 
are therefore lefl to the other offices, in general, only the records that are 
of a purely administrative character. The extent of the historical and 
administrative records of the department is too great to be readily estimated; 
with the exception of the special collection of Revolutionary records de- 
Bcribed under the adjutant-general's office, they do nol antedate 1800, owing 
to the fire in that year. Other losses were suffered in 1814. The files are 
for the most part well arranged and cared for. The method of filing and 
indexing has changed somewhat from time to time, but the card-system is 
now in use throughout the department. 

Access to the records is gained by permission from the Secretary of War, 
or in the case of those in the adjutant-general's office, by permission of the 
latter official. For the reasons given in the order which will be found 
below, access to the latter is, for the present at least, not generally granted, 
and they cannot be said to be open to historical workers for purposes of 
in\ ( stigation. 

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY. 

The records and files of the office of the Secretary (and also of the office 
of the assistant secretary) are, under the supervision of the chief clerk, pre- 
Berved in the Record Division. The records prior to 18G7 were transferred 
to the office of the adjutant-general [then Record and Pension office], by 
War Department order of May 15, 1804. From 18G7 to 1894 the files of 
the Record Division are complete, but since 1894 papers receiving depart- 
mental action have been merely recorded in this division, being permanently 
filed, together with press-copies of the letters containing the departmental 
action, in the bureaus to which they pertain. Papers pertaining to two or 
more bureaus, however, are filed in this division, and the action of the de- 
partment in regard to them is noted in those bureaus. Commencing in 1903 
duplicate press-copies of letters that are signed by the Secretary, assistant 
secretary, and chief clerk have been preserved in letter-books in this division. 

The files from 18G7 to 1904 fill about 450 file-boxes, are for the most part 
arranged numerically, and are fully indexed, to 1890, in index-books, since 
that date, by the card-system. For an account of the records prior to 18G7 
see the description of the adjutant-general's office. 



General Staff. 105 

GENERAL STAFF. 

The General Staff Corps was created by the act of February 14, 1903. 
It is organized in three divisions. The First Division investigates, con- 
siders and reports upon matters connected with the organization, distribu- 
tion, equipment, armament, and training of the army; mobilization and con- 
centration of the land- force in time of war; field manoeuvres; administra- 
tion and discipline, including regulations and orders, efficiency records, 
appointments, promotions, etc.; supervision of the War College and all 
matters pertaining to military instruction ; transportation and communication ; 
locations, sanitation, etc., of military posts, camps, hospitals, depots, and 
quarters; and supplies. The Second Division makes studies of possible 
theatres of war, and prepares plans of campaigns; advises in the appoint- 
ment of military attaches; and collects, arranges, and publishes military 
information and other information bearing upon military matters. To this 
division is attached the library of the War Department, of which special 
mention should be made. It contains an unusually complete collection of 
military literature, some idea of which can be obtained from its published 
catalogues : " Alphabetical Catalogue of the War Department Library " 
(1882); "Alphabetical List of Additions — 1882-1894" (1884- ); 
"Three Finding Lists: 1. Serial Publications. 2. Principal Reference 
Works. 3. Important Accessions, 1898-1903" (1903); "Subject Cata- 
logues", nos. 1—7 (1. Late additions — 1894; 2. Index of periodicals, an- 
nuals, and serials, 1895. 3. Index of periodicals, articles and maps relating 
to Mexico, 1898; 4. Finding list of military biographies and other personal 
literature, 1899; 5. List of photographs and photograph negatives relating 
to the War for the Union, 1897; 6. Military literature relating to the 
participation of the individual states in the War for the Union, 1899, with 
appendix, 1904; 7. Military literature relating to the campaign against 
Chattanooga, etc., — August-December, 1863, 1898). The Third Division 
has to do with all matters pertaining to the technical staff and the special 
arms of the service (engineers, ordinance, signal corps, medical corps, coast 
artillery) ; supervises the technical schools, determines the sites and equip- 
ment of permanent fortifications, is charged with the supervision of sub- 
marine defences, and arranges for combined manoeuvres of army and navy. 

The reports prepared by the General Staff on matters under consideration 
will in time constitute an exceedingly valuable body of material. Most of 
them are confidential, or at least not of such a character that they can be 
made public. A partial list of subjects considered and reported on is 
printed in the report of the Secretary of War (appendix E) for 1903. 



106 Department of War. 

THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE. 1 

The adjutant-general's office, as at present organized, was established with 
the title of "The Military Secretary's office" by the act of April 23, 1904 
(33 Stat. L. °.(*>'2) and was formed by uniting the old adjutant-general's 
office and the Record and Pension Office. The new office constituted the 
department of records, orders, and correspondence of the army and the 
militia, and the military secretary was charged with the duty of recording, 
authenticating, and communicating to troops and individuals in the military 
service ill orders, instructions, and regulations issued by the Secretary of 
War through the chief of stall"; of preparing and distributing commissions; 
of compiling and issuing the Army Register and the Army List and Direc- 
tory; of Consolidating the general returns of the army; of arranging and 
preserving the reports of officers detailed to visit encampments of militia; 
of prep .ring the annual returns of the militia required by law to be sub- 
mitted to Congress; of managing the recruiting service; and of recording 
and issuing orders from the War Department remitting or mitigating sen- 
tences of genera] prisoners who have been discharged from the military 
I [e was Tested by law with the charge, under the Secretary of War, 
*' of the military and hospital records of the volunteer armies and the 
p. • sion ind other business of the War Department connected therewith"; 
and of the publication and distribution of the Official Records of the War 
of the Rebellion. 1 [e also had charge of the historical records and business 
of the permanent military establishment, including all pension, pay, bounty, 
and other business pertaining to or based upon the military or medical his- 
tories of former officers or enlisted men. 

It was also the duty of the military secretary to take such steps as were 
ii' r( ssary to complete or correct the records in his custody, and to answer 
all calls or inquiries that were answerable from those records and that did 
not require administrative action by other bureaus of the War Department 
(Army Regulations, 1904, art. LX). By the act of March 2, 1907 (34 
Stat. L. 1158) the title of the military secretary's office was changed to 
that of adjutant-general's office, but without change of duties. 

1 As noted below, the rules of the War Department do not as yet allow any per- 
sonal investigation to be conducted in the archives of the adjutant-general's office, by 
persons not connected with the department. Hence, although in the preparation of 
this report a large part of the material was actually seen by the compilers, in the 
course of a hasty tour of observation, no examination of it was practicable, and the 
information gained at first-hand was necessarily of the most superficial character. 
The following report was made up, therefore, in part from notes taken in person, 
but mostly from a diligent searching of annual reports and such other publications 
as were likely to be helpful. The assistance of the adjutant-general, Maj or-General 
F. C. Ainsworth, in preparing this revised account of his office, is gratefully 
acknowledged. 



Adjutant-General's Office. 107 

It is perhaps worth while to trace briefly the history of the present 
adjutant-general's office, since it throws considerable light on the process 
by which what may be called the " military archives " of the federal gov- 
ernment have been collected. This process has extended farther in the 
War Department than in any other of the executive departments, and is 
significant because it is undoubtedly an important step towards the com- 
pleter organization of the federal archives. 

The old adjutant-general's office, which as stated above was merged in the 
military secretary's office, was the bureau of orders of the army, and was 
formerly the repository of all records relating to the command of both 
regular and volunteer forces, such as muster rolls, returns, correspondence, 
reports of engagements and movements of troops, and personnel records. 
In 1889, however, the records of the volunteer troops were transferred to 
the Record and Pension Office, and in 1903-1904 the records of the army 
were also transferred, leaving in the office of the adjutant- general only the 
current files. This last transfer was followed by the merging, as stated 
above, of the adjutant-general's office in that of the military secretary. 
Thus the office which had formerly contained the most important of the 
military archives lost its identity. It had been established in 1813 (2 Stat. 
L. 819) although there had previously been an officer known as adjutant- 
general (1 Stat. L. 241). 

The Record and Pension Office was originally a division in the office of 
the surgeon-general and as such had the custody of the hospital records, 
being charged with furnishing to the pension and other bureaus medical 
histories, i. e., the records of medical treatment of soldiers. In 1889 it was 
decided to bring the military and hospital records together in one office, and 
by War Department orders of July 3 and 16 the Record and Pension 
Division of the surgeon-general's office and thirteen divisions in the old office 
of the adjutant-general, containing the books, rolls, papers, correspondence, 
and other records relating to the volunteer organizations that had been in 
the service of the United States, as well as the records of prisoners of war, 
the records of the military districts during the reconstruction period, the 
records of the Freedmen's Bureau, and the records of the provost-marshal- 
general's office, were consolidated as a division of the Secretary's office, 
with the title Record and Pension Division of the War Department. The 
thirteen divisions of the adjutant-general's office thus transferred were as 
follows: (1) Volunteer Service, (2) Enrollment, (3) Bounty and Claims, 
(4) Remuster, (5) Correspondence, Volunteer Enlisted Branch, (6) Letters 
Received, Volunteer Enlisted Branch, (7) First Division, Volunteer Rolls 
and Records, (8) Second Division, Volunteer Rolls and Records, (9) Dis- 
continued Commands, (10) Records of Prisoners of War, (11) Volunteer 
Registers, (12) Deserters, Volunteer Enlisted Branch, (13) Pension Record, 
Volunteer Enlisted Branch. 



108 Department of War. 

The work of the new division was of such importance that in 1892 (27 
Stat. L. 27) it was established as a regular bureau of the War Department 
with the title of Record and Pension Office, and was entrusted with the 
" charge of the military and hospital records of the volunteer armies and the 
pension and other business of the War Department connected therewith". 

The tiles of the office received important additions under the acts of 1892 

and 1894 (27 Stat L. 275; 28 id. 408) in the form of all the military 
records of the Revolution and the War of 1812, which had theretofore beert 
scattered through various executive departments. 

Still further additions were made by the department orders of May 15, 
1894, which transferred to the Record and Pension Office the archives of the 

( onfederate government, previously left in the adjutant-general's office; all 

the records and files to and including those of the year 1866 that had been 
preserved in the Record Division of the Secretary's office, comprising mainly 
the correspondence of the Secretary of War; and finally all "records, files, 
books, manuscripts, orders, returns, or correspondence in any bureau " per- 
taining " r\ilusi\. 1\ or principally to the volunteer forces of any war or the 
officers and enlisted men thereof". 

In December, I8!»8. the War Records Office, which was engaged in com- 
piling and publishing the " Official Records of the War of the Rebellion", 
was merged in the Record and Pension Office, and the work of completing 
the publication of the " Official Records " was carried on by that office (see 
act of February 24, 1899 (30 Stat. L. 871, 874, and also report of Record 
and Pension Office for 1900). 

One result of the Spanish War was the accumulation of a vast amount 
of records, and in the act of April 22, 1898 (30 Stat. L. 2G2), creating the 
volunteer army, was the provision that upon the disbandment of the volunteer 
and militia organizations all the military and medical records pertaining 
to them should be filed in the Record and Pension Office; by the close of 
1901 this provision had been complied with. 

By department orders of August 19 and 20 and September 28, 1903, and 
of January 2G, 1904, the files of the Mail and Record, Orders and Supply, 
Efficiency, Returns, and Rolls Divisions, and of the Appointment Commission 
and Personnel Division of the Adjutant-General's Office, comprising the 
records of the regular army, and all papers and records of the surgeon-gen- 
eral's office relating to officers and enlisted men no longer in the medical 
department, together with all hospital and medical records relating to 
members of the volunteer and regular armies, were transferred to the 
Record and Pension Office, the purpose of the orders being " to concentrate 
in the Record and Pension Office the historical records and business of the 
department, including all pension and other business relating to the military 
or medical histories of former officers or enlisted men of the regular or the 



Adjutant-General's Office. 109 

volunteer army, leaving to other bureaus or offices such business of a current 
nature as relates in the present to the command or administration of the 
military establishment ". 

Finally, under the joint resolution of April 28, 1904, which provided for 
the transfer of the military rolls and records of all wars prior to the Civil 
War, a large collection of rolls and other records relating to Indian wars 
was removed from the Interior Department to the Record and Pension 
Office. Thus this office became the depository of the military archives of 
the United States from the War of the Revolution to the present time. 

Full accounts of the history of that office and descriptions of the records, 
methods of indexing, etc., are contained in the annual reports of the chief 
of the Record and Pension Office from 1892 to 1903, and since then (1904- 
1906) in the reports of the military secretary (generally in the first volume 
of the reports of the War Department for each year). 

The volume of the files thus brought together is very great. Exclusive of 
the recently added records of the regular army, they occupy about 100 
rooms in the State, War, and Navy building, together with over 40,000 
square feet of floor space in the Army Medical Museum, the Ford's Theatre 
building, and two buildings on Seventeenth and G Streets (see report for 
1901 under the heading "Additional Space Required"). There are re- 
ported to be something over one thousand tons of the records of the volun- 
teer forces alone. 

The simple but practically perfect method of indexing, known as the 
index-record card-system, is described in the various annual reports of the 
chief of the office, but a particularly full account of its working and of the 
history of its application is contained in the report for 1892. In this 
system each individual whose name appears on the records is represented by 
a card bearing his name, rank, company, and regiment, and in abbreviated 
form, all the information relating to him contained in the original records, 
with references thereto. Thus, if necessary, the original files can be readily 
examined. These cards are arranged by regiments and alphabtically, so 
that, given a soldier's name and regiment, his medical or military history 
can at once be ascertained. Records which are not most advantageously 
indexed in this way are made accessible by means of index and reference 
cards of various kinds, and there is a list of all rolls, books, volumes, etc., 
on file; thus it may be said that all the files of the office have been or are 
in process of being indexed and made readily accessible. At present this 
record-index contains over 53,000,000 cards, exclusive of those for the 
regular army records. 

Lists of useless papers are contained in H. Ex. Doc. 197, 51 Cong., 1 
sess. ; H. Doc. 243, 56 Cong., 2 sess. ; and H. Doc. 582, 57 Cong., 1 sess. 
The last official destruction of papers in any of the divisions and offices 



HO Department of War. 

now comprised in the adjutant-general's office, took place in 1889, when 
in any pipers in those divisions of the old adjutant-general's office that later 
were consolidated with the Record and Pension Division were disposed of 
as having no value (see H. Ex. Doc. 197, SI Cong., 1 sess. It should be 
noted, however, that the ten tons of Confederate archives recommended for 
disposal were finally preserved. S. Rept. los.'i, , r >i Cong., 1 sess.). 

Access to the records is restricted to persons under the authority of the 
War Department; tin- following rales govern the use of this material for 
all purposes not purely official. A more detailed statement on the subject 
of access to the records, giving tlie reasons for its being so restricted, is to 
be found in the report of the chief of the Record and Pension Office for 1897: 

\V \n Dkpaiitmknt, Washington, D. C, 
Order*.] February 2$, 1897. 

The muster rolls and other records of individual officers, enlisted men and organi- 
zations, which ore on file in the Record and Pension Office of this Department and 
which pertain to the War of the Rebellion, the Mexican War, the various Indian wars, 
the War of 1812 and the War of the Revolution, have become so dilapidated through 
years of constant handling, or other causes, that it has been found necessary to 
adopt stringent measures for their preservation, and to restrict reference to them 
to cases in which such reference is absolutely necessary. Many of the most impor- 
tant of those records have been reproduced by the index-record card system, but the 
handling of these cards, as well as the original records which they represent, by 
persons not thoroughly instructed in their use and not under the control of this 
Department, involves great danger of the loss, through misfiling or otherwise, of 
cards or other records which cannot be replaced. I'"or these reasons, as well as for 
others equally cogent, the Department is compelled to restrict access both to the 
original records and the Index-record cards exclusively to persons who are in the 
employ of the Department and are lawfully subject to its control. 

The Department will furnish at any time such information relative to any indi- 
vidual officer or enlisted man as its records afford, and as may be actually necessary 
to enable the proper officials of any State, or any relief association, patriotic society 
or other kindred organization, to pass upon any application that may have been 
made in good faith for aid, relief or membership, and that may properly come within 
the jurisdiction of such officials or organization. But requests for information 
relative to individual officers or enlisted men, or for the compilation of statistical 
or other data relative to particular organizations, to be used for historical or memorial 
purposes or for publication, cannot be entertained, because the limited clerical force 
allowed by law is insufficient to enable the Department to comply with such requests 
without serious interference with more important current work. 

The records of general historical value pertaining to the late war have either 
been published, or soon will be published, in the " Official Records of the Union and 
Confederate Armies," so as to render them accessible to all who may be interested 
in them. Should Congress provide in future for a similar publication of the records 
relating especially to individual officers, enlisted men and organizations of that war 
and prior wars, the historical data which those records contain will also become 
available for general use, but until such publication shall have been authorized, or 
other legislation enacted, it will be impracticable for the Department to furnish 



Adjutant-General's Office. Ill 

compilations or statements from those records for historical, memorial or statistical 
purposes, or for publication. 

For the reasons set forth above, the following rules have been adopted relative to 
the subject of furnishing statements or extracts from the records of the personnel 
of the volunteer armies and other similar records on file in the Record and Pension 
Office of this Department, and are hereby announced for the information and guid- 
ance of all concerned: 

1. All requests, made by persons other than officials of the United States, for 
information from the official records must, to receive favorable consideration, set 
forth the specific purpose for which they are made, and must be sufficiently in detail 
to enable this Department to determine for itself how much, if any, of the informa- 
tion asked for is necessary for the purpose indicated and can be properly furnished. 

2. Any such request that may be made with a view to determining the merits of 
an application for State or other aid or relief must be made, over his own signature, 
by the State or other official who may be authorized by law to decide whether such 
aid or relief shall be furnished ; or, in case the decision rests with a board, commission 
or association, the request must be made, over his or her own signature, by the chief 
officer of the board or other organization which is empowered to decide the case. All 
such requests must, to receive favorable consideration, meet the following requirements: 

(a) The character of the relief or aid for which application has been made must 
be fully and specifically set forth. 

(b) If the application is to be decided under a law of any State, that law must 
be definitely cited. 

(c) If the application is pending before any board or association, not created by 
or acting under any law, the source from which such board or association derives its 
authority to act must be stated. 

(d) If the pending application is that of some person other than the one whose 
record is desired, the relationship of the applicant to the person whose record is 
desired must be set forth. 

(e) The full name of the person whose record is requested, the rank held by him, 
and the designation of the organization in which it is claimed that he served, must 
invariably be stated. : -i * 

3. Any request that may be made for the purpose of enabling a society or asso- 
ciation to decide as to the eligibility or non-eligibility of an applicant for admission 
thereto must be made by the chief officer, over his or her own signature, of that 
branch of the society or association in which the application is to be voted upon or 
otherwise decided, and must meet the following requirements: 

(a) The title or designation, and the location, of the branch to which the appli- 
cation for membership has been made must be given. 

(6) The full name and residence of the applicant, and the date on which the 
application was made, must be stated. 

(c) The relationship of the applicant to the person whose record is desired, if the 
application for membership was not made by such person himself, must be set forth. 

(d) If the record of any other person has been requested of, or furnished by, the 
War Department in connection with the pending application, a statement to that 
effect, including the name of the person whose record has been requested or fur- 
nished, must be made. 

(e) The full name and rank of the person whose record is desired, and the desig- 
nation of the company and regiment, if any, in which he served, must be invariably 
stated in all cases in which service during the War of the Rebellion is claimed. 



112 Department of War. 

(/■) Tin- full nnine of llic person whose record is desired, and the State from 
which he entered service or of which he was a resident at the time of his entry into 
Bervice, must be Invariably stated In nil cases In which service during the Revolution 
or the War of 1SI.' is claimed. His rank and the designation of the organization in 

which be served, If known, should also be stated. 

(</) Requests for the record of a man whose surname only is known, or for infor- 
mation relative to all the men bearing a certain name, will not he entertained. 

t. Requests emanating from a post or other subsidiary organization of the Grand 
Army of the Republic must he forwarded through, and must he authenticated by 

the signature ofi the Department Commander. Requests emanating from the sub- 
divisions of other associations founded on military service during the War of the 
llion must I e forwarded and authenticated as follows: I'riion Veterans' Union, 

through department commanders; Union Veteran Legion, through the National Com- 

■r; Sous of Veterans, through division commanders. 

5. The information that will l>e furnished for use in connection with any applica- 
tion for membership in any society or association, or for State or other aid or relief, 
will he strictly limited to that which is actually necessary to enable a decision upon 
the pending application to he made, and will in no case comprise items that may 
be desired for any other purpose, such as to complete the records of a society, to 
make some other and different application, or to he used in the prosecution of a 
claim against the United States. 

6. Concise statements of the military histories, so far as shown by the records on 
file, of men who served in the Revolution or in the War of 1812, will be furnished 
upon the application of descendants of those men, under the following conditions: 

(a) The relationship of the applicant to each person whose record is desired must 
be Stated. 

(o) The full Christian name as well as the surname of such person must invariably 
be given, and the rank which he held and the designation of the organization in which 
he served, if those are known, must he stated. 

(r) The place, or at least the State, from which he entered service, or of which 
he was a resident at the time of his entry into service, must he designated. 

(r/) If the name of the person whose record is desired is a common one, the desig- 
nation of the organization in which he served, or the names of some of the regi- 
mental officers under whom he served, must he stated. 

(e) Requests for information relative to all the men hearing a certain name will 
not he entertained, nor will any other request involving an unreasonable expenditure 
of time and labor be considered. 

(/■) There will not he furnished to or for any one descendant the record of service 
of more than two ancestors in the Revolution, or of more than two in the War 
of 18).'. 

7. T.ach request for the record of an officer or enlisted man of any war should 
he made on a separate sheet of paper, should be complete in itself, and should fully 
meet all the requirements of this order. In no case should requests for the records 
of two or more men be combined in one communication. 

8. Compilations or statements relative to individual officers, enlisted men or organi- 
zations will not be furnished, from the records on file in the Record and Pension 
Office, for historical, memorial or statistical purposes, or for publication, or to com- 
plete the records of States, societies or associations. 

9. Because of the great danger of the destruction, loss or misfiling, through handling 
by inexperienced persons or those not under the control of this Department, of the 



Adjutant-General's Office. 113 

muster rolls and other regimental or company records, index-record cards, and all 
other similar records, which are on file in the Record and Pension Office, and which 
pertain wholly or chiefly to the personnel of the armies of various wars, the handling 
of these records will be restricted exclusively to the specially trained employees of 
that office, and no information will be furnished from them except as hereinbefore 
provided, or as may be otherwise required by law. 

Daniel S. Lamoxt, 
Secretary of War. 

In his annual reports for 1905 and 1906, the military secretary suggested 
that all the records of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and other 
wars prior to the Civil War that are of general historical interest or 
value, and that can be published without endangering public or private 
interests, should be made accessible to the public. He stated that " no 
argument is necessary to show that the way in which these records can be 
made most readily accessible to the greatest number, without danger to the 
records themselves and without serious interference with the current work 
of the Department, is by publishing the records as those of the Civil War 
were published," and recommends " that, until they shall have been pub- 
lished, the rules of the War Department denying access to the records by 
persons not officially connected with the department be so far relaxed at the 
proper time as to permit the exhibition of historical records relating to wars 
prior to the Civil War to persons desiring to consult them for literary or 
historical purposes, care being taken to discriminate between records of 
general historical interest and those of a purely personal nature, so that 
public and private interests may be protected." A difficulty in the way of 
immediately carrying out this suggestion, however, is found in the fact that 
there is no space in the department building known to be available for the 
purpose of bringing together the records, which are scattered through the 
books and files of the different bureaus and offices of the department, and 
making them accessible to persons who may desire to consult them. 

No systematic publication of any considerable portion of the military 
archives, with the exception of those included in the " Official Records of 
the War of the Rebellion ", has yet been made. It is expected that when 
as nearly a complete collection as can be secured has been made of the 
records of the Revolution and the War of 1812, the publication of the 
individual military records of those wars will be undertaken (see report 
of chief of Record and Pension Office, 1898). The collection of records 
of the Mexican War is believed to be as complete as it can be made, and it 
is estimated that this material could be printed in six volumes of 1,000 
pages each (report of Military Secretary, 1905). The publication entitled 
" Official Records of the War of the Rebellion " is too well known to re- 
quire more than a mention; the history of the publication is fully recounted 
9 



114 Department of War. 

in the index-volume of the series. The publication of the roster of the 
officers and enlisted men in the Union and Confederate armies is to be 
undertaken, and the plans for it are set forth in the report of the Record 
and Pension Office for 1908. The Journals of the Confederate Congress, 
the originals of which are among the Confederate archives, have been 
printed in mwii \olmnes as S. Doe. J.! I. 58 Cong.j 2 sess., and a synopsis of 
their Contents is in the report of the military secretary for 1905. Finally 
a \ery gnat number of military documents are printed in the scries of con- 
gressional documents. Particularly is this true in the ease of material 
relating to the Mexican and Spanish wars, to military governments during 
reconstruction, etc. 

I. Revolutionary Records. 

The Revolutionary records in the adjutant-general's office are very in- 
complete, owing partly to their having been widely scattered during the 
period between 1783 and the establishment of the War Department, and 
partly to the disastrous fire of 1800, in which practically all the records of 
historical value in the department were destroyed (" American State Papers, 
Miscellaneous ", I. 232). Many of these records were formerly filed in 
other executive departments, and in 18!)2 and 18!>1, by the acts referred 
to above, were transferred to this office. The largest bodies of records so 
transferred were the army returns among the Washington papers, and the 
quartermaster's records from the files of the State Department. In addition 
to these many more were brought from other departments, notably the 
Interior and the Treasury, and transcripts were made of the Revolutionary 
records in the possession of the states of New Hampshire, Vermont, and 
New York. These then are the main sources of this part of the archives 
of the adjutant-general's office. The following description is drawn from 
the inventory of the Washington papers in " Bulletin of the Bureau of 
Rolls and Library. N'n. .'? " (pp. 15-10), and from a list furnished by the 
State Department of the quartermaster's records transferred to the War 
Department in 1891. For other Revolutionary records see below under 
Old War and Navy Division of the Pension Bureau, Interior Department. 
Army Returns of the Revolution. 

There are thirty-seven volumes of these papers; they comprise the original 
rosters and returns on various subjects connected with the army, used by 
Washington in camp and retained by him as his military papers. Tran- 
scripts of the papers prior to 1776, made by Peter Force, are to be found 
in the Library of Congress. The titles of the volumes show their contents 
to be rosters and resignations of officers arranged by states, oaths of 
allegiance, reports of guards, regimental and brigade returns, inspection 
returns, quartermasters' pay and hospital returns, and returns of clothing, 
provisions, and military stores. 



Adjutant-General's Office. 115 

Revolutionary Records, Quartermaster's Department. 

1. Orderly books, June 15, 1775-September 27, 1783 (72 books). 

2. Letters and letter-books. 

a. Timothy Pickering, quartermaster-general, November 14, 1780— July 

9, 1787. 

b. Samuel Hodgdon, commissary-general of military stores, 1778-Oc- 

tober 22, 1800. 

c. General Edward Hand, March 27, 1781-July 6, 1783. 

d. Major Thomas Cogswell, 1780-1783. 

e. Colonel Jeduthan Baldwin, 1780-1781. 

3. Account-books, 1776-1798 (15 books). 

4. Day-books, 1781-1782. 

5. Estimates, 1776-1793. 

6. Military stores; accounts, inventories, books of stores delivered, returns, 

etc., 1776-1787. 

7. Receipts, 1778-1789. 

8. Peter Anspach's receipt-book and specie books. 

9. Ordnance accounts, returns, invoices, etc., 1777—1793. 

10. Returns, 1783. 

11. Memorandum books, 1789-1795. 

12. Oaths, November 20, 1780-May 18, 1781. 

13. Provision returns, December, 1783. 

14. Cartridge ledger, 1778, 1779. 

15. Account of arms brought in ship " America ", May 6, 1783. 

16. Musket cartridge account, 1778-1780. 

17. Proceedings of arbitrators (forage in New York), 1781. 

18. Plan of Fort Washington, 1780. 

19. Cruise of schooner " Active ". 

20. Plans for conducting quartermaster-general's department, 1780. 

21. Establishment of American navy, May 2, 1778. 

22. Pay of the army, 1782. 

23. Money orders drawn by commissary department. 

24. Accounts, bills, returns, pay-rolls, invoices, etc., and seventy-five file- 

boxes of papers not specifically listed. 

II. Records of the Wak of 1812. 

The records of the War of 1812 are not complete. Many of them were 
formerly in other departments but were transferred to the Record and 
Pension Office with the Revolutionary records. It will be noted that some 
of the classes of records described below include records of the War of 1812. 



116 Department of War. 

III. Records of the Secretary of War. 

As noted above under the Record Division of the Secretary's office, all 
the material in that division accumulated before 18G7 was transferred to the 
Record and Pension Office in 1884. These records consist largely of corre- 
spondence and include both the original files and the record-books or regis- 
try of letters. The only records prior to 1800 are a one-volume register 
of letters received and sent, 1798 lT'.Hi, and two volumes of ledgers, 1780- 
1783, 1795—1798. The records since 1800 are arranged in various series; 
one series of letters-received volumes is continuous from 1800, as is also one 
series of letters sent volumes. Other scries are: letters to the President, 
lSOd I si',.;; decisions and orders, 1 800-1 850 ; quartermaster's department and 
engineers, 1814—1815; quartermaster-general and purchasing departments, 
1814-1815; confidential books, 1814, 1886, 1847; Mexican War accounts; 
unofficial letters si nt by (ass, Spencer, and Marcy, 1835-1847; etc. 

IV. Records of the Rec.ui.ar Army. 

The records of the regular army, formerly filed in the old office of the 
adjutant-general, were transferred to the then military secretary's office 
in 1808 1904. They include (1) correspondence; letters sent from 1809 
to date, litters received from 1805; (2) returns; returns of posts and camps 
from 1808, of regiments from 18'Jl, of staff departments and of the Military 
Ac idem; from 1811, of departments and districts from 1809, of militia from 
18'Jl. battle reports, 1801-1805, monthly personal reports of officers from 
1864; (3) regimental and company books, with registers of enlistments, 
muster rolls, clothing books, inspection returns, descriptive lists, etc., from 
1800; and (4) general orders from 1809 (an index to these is printed in 
three volumes: "Index to General Orders and Circulars, 1809—1900" 
(Washington, 1882, 188(3, 1901); see also "Index to the General Orders 
Amendatory of the U. S. Army Regulations, together with index of the 
circulars, rulings, and decisions of the War Department to January 1, 1887 ", 
by William Baird (Washington, J. J. Chapman, 1887). 

V. Records of the Volunteer Armies. 

The records of the volunteer armies, originally filed in the old adjutant- 
general's office, consist of ( 1 ) volunteer regimental and company descriptive, 
order, and report-books, and pay and muster rolls from 1831 to 1807, 
covering the Sac and Fox, Black Hawk, Creek and Seminole, Mexican, New 
Mexico Indian, and Civil Wars; (2) letters received relating to volunteers, 
1848 to 1889; (3) the correspondence, reports of commissioners and of 
military and civil officers, and the other records of all military commands, 
districts, departments, etc., which have been discontinued, 1817 to 1889, 



Adjutant-General's Office. 117 

including such important records as those of the military governments of 
California and New Mexico and of the reconstruction districts in the South; 
(4) the records of the provost-marshal-general's bureau, 1863 to 1866; (5) 
records of the freedman's branch, 1872-1879; (6) records of the slave claim 
commissions in Maryland, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky, 1863-1866; 
(7) all records pertaining to the authorization, organization, service, and 
discharge of volunteer troops, and to the original enlistments of volunteers, 
substitutes, and drafted men; and (8) lists, records, rolls, etc., of Union and 
Confederate prisoners of war, including the rolls of surrendered Confederate 
troops. 

VI. Indian Wars. 

Under the joint resolution of April 28, 1904, some 468 muster-out rolls 
were transferred from the Department of the Interior to the then military 
secretary's office. They pertained, for the most part, to the following 
Indian wars: Black Hawk, 1832; Florida, 1835-1858; Sabine, 1836-1837 
Creek, 1835-1836; Osage, 1837; Heatherby, 1838; Patriot, 1838-1839 
Cayuse, 1847-1848; Rogue River, 1851-1853; New Mexico, 1846-1855 
Pitt River expedition, 1850; Utah, 1853; Texas; Yakama, 1855. (Listed 
in H. Rept. 3876, 57 Cong., 2 sess.). In addition to these should be noted 
records of St. Clair's expedition of 1791-1792, which were transferred from 
the Department of State in 1894. 

VII. Confederate Archives. 

The Confederate archives are the records of the administration of the 
Confederate government, captured, for the most part, upon the fall of the 
Confederacy, and placed in the old adjutant-general's office. Here they 
appear to have remained for some time, unarranged and unused, until it was 
discovered that they contained evidence of great value in connection with 
cotton and other southern claims. They have since been arranged and are 
now readily accessible and well indexed. They consist of the records and 
correspondence of the Confederate War Department, including pay-rolls, 
returns, hospital registers, and orders, and the correspondence and other 
records of the offices of the adjutant-general and inspector-general and of 
the engineer, ordnance, quartermaster's, commissary, and medical depart- 
ments; records of the State, Treasury, Judiciary, and Post-Office Depart- 
ments; Navy pay-rolls; contracts; vouchers; papers of states; papers of 
vessels; and the journals of Congress in 53 volumes now printed, together 
with about 200 boxes of miscellaneous legislative papers. 



118 Department of War. 

OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL. 

The Inspector-General's department was established under the act of 
March 3, 1813 (2 Stat. L. 819), hut the office of inspector-general had been 
Created during the Revolution. For the history of the office and of the 
department see the "Legislative History of the General Staff" (pp. 85- 
118), Military Laws of the United States, 1901 (pp. 869-864), and the 
annual report of the inspector-general to the Secretary of War for 1900 
(pp. 130-119). The duties of the department are very comprehensive and 
are OO&eerned With marly all the phaaef of army administration. The 
officer! of the inspector general's department inspect all military com- 
mands, garrisoned or ungarrisoned posts, camps, armories, arsenals, depots, 
genera] hospitals, soldiers' homes, general recruiting stations, the proving 
ground at Sandy Hook, the military prisoners in the United States peni- 
tentiary at Fori Leavenworth, national cemeteries, army transports, the 
Military Academy, the service schools, the military departments of schools 
at which officers are detailed, and the money accounts of disbursing officers. 
Written reports of these inspections are forwarded to the inspector-general 
through the adjutant-general. Each report gives a result of the inspection, 
dealing with defects, deficiencies, irregularities, recommendations, commenda- 
tions, etc. These items are grouped by departments as: commanding officer, 
quartermaster's department, corps of engineers, etc. Inspector's reports of 
garrisons and posts contain information respecting the efficiency, spirit, dis- 
cipline, appearance, etc., of officers and troops; general condition of the 
post OX garrison, as regards police, sanitation, state of repair, and accom- 
modations; supplies, means of transportation, condition of all public prop- 
erty, etc. (see Army Regulations, 1904, art. LXVIII. The annual reports 
of the inspector-general (especially those prior to 1903) contain many 
extracts from inspection reports, which serve excellently to illustrate the 
character and value of this class of material. The records and files of the 
inspector-general's office consist of correspondence and the inspection re- 
ports, described above. The correspondence is of value in supplementing 
the reports and in showing the methods of administering the inspector- 
general's department. 

With the exception of the five volumes noted below, the inspector-general's 
office contains no records or files prior to 1803; the earlier records are said 
to have been kept in the adjutant-general's office. The records since 1863 
are in two classes, (1) communications received, filling about 700 file-boxes, 
and (2) communications sent, preserved at first in fair copies, later in press 
copies. Both classes of communications are briefed in record-books, and the 
contents of these record-books are made accessible through indexes. 

Parts of the records of the office are considered confidential. 



Office of the Inspector-General. 119 

Early Records. 

1. Inspection of October 5, 1812: 

" Inspector's Report of the state of the 14th Regiment of Infantry, com- 
manded by Col. William H. Winder." Reveals great neglect on the part 
of the government. 

2. Inspection reports, 1811^—1886 {5 vols.). 
Volume I. 1814-1823. 

(1) Inspector's report of the state of the barracks, Fort St. Charles; hos- 
pital and magazine in New Orleans, June 30, 1814. 

(2) Inspection of Camp Montgomery (near confluence of Tombigbee and 
Alabama rivers), April 30, 1817. 

(3) Inspection report, Detroit, January 15, 1817. 

(4) Confidential report on the southern division of the army; Nashville, 
November, 1817. 

(5) Confidential report on the troops at Sackett's Harbor, June 30, 1814. 

(6) Confidential report on the southern division of the army under the 
command of Maj or-General Andrew Jackson, 1819. 

(7) Confidential report on eastern section of southern division of the 
army, Fort Hawkins, Georgia, June 30, 1820. 

(8) Report of inspection of several posts, December, 1821. 

(9) Report on company at Augusta Arsenal, November 29, 1822. 

(10) Inspection of 2d Regiment of artillery at Frankford, Pennsylvania, 
August-September, 1822. 

(11) Notes of a tour of inspection, commencing December 10, 1822, 
Harper's Ferry. 

Volume II. Inspection reports, 1823—1824. 

(1) Report, dated November, 1821-November, 1823, on Baton Rouge, 
New Orleans, Fort St. Philip, Pensacola, and forts in Florida, Louisiana, 
Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Kentucky. 

(2) Report of a tour of inspection commencing November, 1823. Pitts- 
burgh Arsenal, Pensacola, Fort Lafayette, New York, and others. 

(3) Report on Madison Barracks, New York, July 1, 1824. 

(4) Report of inspection of the left wing of the eastern department of 
the army, 1824. Includes New York, Fort Howard, Green Bay, Mackinac, 
Sault Ste. Marie, northwest frontier, Drummond Island, Detroit, Niagara, 
Rochester, Sackett's Harbor, Springfield, Boston, Watertown, etc. 

Volume III. Inspection reports, 1825-1828. 

(1) Report of tour of inspection of western department of the army, 
March 21, 1825; Baton Rouge, New Orleans, etc. 

(2) Inspection of Fort Washington, January 13, 1825. 

(3) Tour of inspection during summer and fall of 1826; Forts Brady, 
Crawford, Snelling, etc. 



120 Department of War. 

(4) Report of tour of inspection, spring, summer, and fall of 1829. 

(5) Confidential report to Major-Genera] J. Brown, November 16, 1827. 

(6) Report of Major-General Gaines upon Indian affairs, New York, 
January 6, 1828. 

Volume IV. Inspection reports, 1 8 'J '. > . 

(1) Inspection of Harper's Ferry, May 2(5, 1820. 

(2) Report of* tour of inspection in 1820; Fort Wood, Fort Pike, Fort 
St. Philip, Baton Rouge. 

(8) Estimate of ordnance and supplies for military posts, etc., in time 
of peace, October 21, 1820. 

(4) Inspection of the United States forces and military posts in the 
eastern department, by E. P. Gaines, for half-year ending December 31, 
182:i ( I in pages). 

Volume V. Inspection reports, 1 8S0-1 886. 

(1) Inspection of posts, March-October, 1830; Fort Preble, Hancock 
Barrack*, Fort Sullivan, Madison Barracks. 

(2) Inspection report, Fort Delaware, July 31, 1834. 

(3) Inspection of Fort Brady, July, 1834; Fort Mackinac, Fort Howard, 
Fort Winnebago, Fort Snclling, Fort Crawford, Fort Armstrong, Leaven- 
worth and Jefferson Barracks. 

(4) Inspection of Fort Leavenworth, August, 183G. 

(5) Report of a tour of inspection in the summer and fall of 1828; Fort 
Mackinac, Hancock Barracks, etc. 

(6) Inspection of Fort Des Moines and Rock Island, January, 1836. 

OFFICE OF THE JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL. 

The office of Judge- Advocate of the Army was created in 1775 (Journals 
of Congress, July 20, 1775), was discontinued in 1802 (2 Stat. L. 132), 
but had a second period of existence from 1812 to 1821 (2 Stat. L. 674; 
3 ibid. 615). In 1840 it was again revived (0 Stat. L. 851), and in 1862 
the office of Judge- Advocate-General was created (12 Stat. L. 508). In 
1864 it was transferred to the newly created Bureau of Military Justice as 
its head (13 Stat. L. 145). Finally in 1884 the Bureau of Military Justice 
and the Corps of Judge-Advocates of the Army were consolidated under 
the designation of Judge- Advocate-General's Department (23 Stat. L. 113). 
Accounts of the history and duties of the office and of the legislation affect- 
ing it will be found in the " Legislative History of the General Staff " (pp. 
121-136), Military Laws of the United States, 1001 (pp. 265-268), Army 
Regulations, 1904 (art. LXIX), and in "A Sketch of the History and 
Duties of the Judge-Advocate-General's Department" (Washington, 1878), 
j prepared by W. M. Dunn. 

The judge-advocate-general reviews and makes reports upon the proceed- 



Office of the Judge-Advocate-General. 121 

ings of courts-martial, courts of inquiry, and military commissions, and 
makes reports upon applications for pardon or mitigation of sentence. 
He renders opinions upon questions relating to the promotion, rank, and 
pay of officers and enlisted men and to their amenability to military and 
civil jurisdiction; to the employment of the army in execution of the laws; 
to the administration of military commands and reservations ; to the proper 
construction of acts of Congress relating to the War Department, etc. He 
also drafts contracts, bonds, leases, etc., for execution by the Secretary of 
War, and in general is the legal officer of the War Department. 

The more important records in the office of the judge-advocate-general 
consist of the original proceedings of general courts-martial (courts con- 
vened by general orders for all trials of officers and for trials of enlisted 
men for serious offenses), courts of inquiry, and military commissions, to- 
gether with correspondence and opinions, and of all papers relating to the 
title of lands under the control of the War Department, except the Wash- 
ington Aqueduct and buildings and grounds within the District of Columbia. 

The proceedings of courts are all similar in form and consist of the 
charge, plea, evidence, arguments, and decision. The proceedings of many 
trials are to be found printed in the " American State Papers, Military 
Affairs ", and in the congressional series of public documents, and serve 
excellently as illustrations of this class of material. The historical value 
of the greater part of these records is undoubtedly slight, but the proceed- 
ings of many trials throw much light on military operations, conduct of 
officers, etc., and are of great value to the student. Among such would be 
the proceedings of the military commissions in the trial of the " Lincoln 
Conspirators " and in the " Indiana Treason " cases, or of the general 
courts-martial of Hull and Fremont, all of which are printed. The records 
of proceedings on file in the office of the judge-advocate- general date from 
1808; those from 1808 to 1815 are copies, made in eight volumes; the 
original proceedings from 1815 to the close of the Mexican War fill 167 file- 
boxes; from the Mexican War to the present time, about 4,000 file-boxes. 
The records are so indexed and arranged that any particular case can 
readily be found, from the name of the person tried or, when known, the 
date of the trial; the annual reports of the judge-advocate-general contain 
classified lists of trials, showing the number for each class of offense, and 
thus serve to indicate the general character of the material filed in the 
office. The "Subject Index of the General Orders of the War Depart- 
ment" (in three volumes, 1882, 1886, and 1901) contains, under "court- 
martial ", " courts-martial ", " court of inquiry ", and " commission, mili- 
tary ", lists of general orders convening such bodies, which serve as a guide 
to part of the records, especially to that part between 1809 and 1860. 

The records of minor courts (regimental, garrison, summary, etc.) were 



122 Depart mint of War. 

formerly filed here, but under the acts of March 8, 1877 (19 Stat. L. 310), 
and June 18, 1898 (30 Stat. L. 483), they are now preserved for two years 
at departmental headquarters and then destroyed. Such of these records 
as were filed in the office of the judgc-advocate-general have been disposed 
of as useless pipers (see H. Ex. Doc. l'.>7, .">1 Cong., 1 scss.; and H. Doc. 
582, 57 Cong., 1 sess.). 

The correspondence is arranged as Letters received (on file from August 
1, 1854) and as letters scnt( copies filed from 1842). The letters sent 
include the valuable classes of material comprising reports upon the pro- 
ceedings of general courts martial, military commissions, and courts of in- 
quiry, and upon applications for pardon or mitigation of sentence; and 
opinions rendered on questions of law submitted to the office. The more 
valuable of the opinions are rendered accessible in McClure's "Digest of 
tin Opinions of the .Judge- Advocate-General of the Army" (published by 
authority of the Secretary of War, 1901). 

Attention may be directed to the library of the office, which is very rich 
in printed proceedings of trials and in works on military law. 



OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL. 

The duties of the Quartermaster-General were performed by the Secre- 
tary of War until the establishment of the quartermaster's department in 
1812 (2 Stat. L. (i!)f*»). It is the duty of this department to provide the 
army with military stores and supplies, such as clothing and equipage, 
furniture, fuel, lighting, text-books and reading matter, tools, wagons, 
harness, water supply, sewerage, plumbing, etc.; to provide transportation 
by land and water for troops, munitions of war, and all military supplies; 
to provide all buildings at military posts; to construct and repair military 
roads, railways, bridges, docks, and wharves; to maintain national ceme- 
teries ; and to furnish supplies to the militia of the various states as pro- 
vided for by law. Accounts of the history and duties of the quartermaster's 
department are contained in H. A. Royce's " Sketch of the Organization of 
the Quartermaster's Department from 1774 to 187G " (Washington, 1870), 
Military Laws of the United States, 1901 (pp. 290-292), "Legislative 
History of the General Staff " (pp. 139-140), Hamersly's " Army Register, 
1779-1879" (second part, pp. 315-339), and Army Regulations, 1904 
(art. LXXIV). 

The operations of the department from year to year are set forth in the 
annual reports of the quartermaster-general. By far the greater part of 
the files have no historical value. They consist of vouchers, returns of prop- 
erty and stores, the records of contracts, and the correspondence relating 
to the various details of work, and are of the same general character as the 



Office of the Commissary-General. 123 

records of a large business establishment. The only records possessing any 
value are those which relate to the general work and policy of the quarter- 
master-general's office. These consist principally of correspondence, and 
are contained in two series, letters received and letters sent, each commencing 
in June, 1818. There are no files of earlier date, and the larger part of 
the records are later than 1850. For the quartermaster's records of the 
Revolution see under adjutant-general's office, above. A great mass of 
unimportant material is stored at the Schuylkill Arsenal of the Philadelphia 
quartermaster's depot. A list of such papers as are recommended for 
destruction is contained in H. Doc. 582, 57 Cong., 1 sess. 



OFFICE OF THE COMMISSARY^GENERAL. 

The work of subsisting the army was performed by both the War and 
Treasury Departments until 1819, when, in accordance with the act of the 
previous year (3 Stat. L. 426), the office of Commissary-General was estab- 
lished. The duties of the office consist in providing and issuing rations 
to the army, purchasing and distributing articles authorized to be kept for 
sale to officers and enlisted men, making a preliminary administrative ex- 
amination of accounts of subsistence funds, and examining and settling 
returns of subsistence supplies. The history and duties of the subsistence 
department are fully set forth in John W. Barriger's " Legislative History 
of the Subsistence Department, 1775-1876" (Washington, 1877), Military 
Laws of the United States, 1901 (pp. 305-308), " Legislative History of 
the General Staff" (pp. 237-238), Hamersly's "Army Register, 1779- 
1879 " (pp. 340-343), Army Regulations, 1904 (art. LXXV), and " Manual 
for the Subsistence Department, 1902 ". 

The records and files of the office consist of correspondence and accounts, 
and are complete from their beginning in 1818 with the exception of those 
destroyed as useless (see H. Ex. Doc. 197, 51 Cong., 1 sess.; and H. Doc. 
582, 57 Cong., 1 sess.). The correspondence is arranged in various series. 
Registers of letters received (containing briefs of the letters) are in a 
single continuous series from May, 1818, to May 14, 1875, when additional 
series, relating to accounts, returns, etc., were inaugurated; registers of 
letters sent (containing copies of the letters) are arranged in the same way, 
beginning in November, 1818, but in January, 1840, a separate series of 
registers of letters to the Secretary of War was started. The accounts and 
other records consist of records of contracts, from June 1, 1819, papers 
relating to claims for subsistence furnished, records of expenditures, etc. 



124 Department of War. 

OFFICE OF THE SURGEON-GENERAL. 

The medical department, with a Surgeon-General at its head, was estab- 
lished in 1818 (3 Stat. L. 126), although there had previously been medical 
officers, and in 17!>'.> (1 Stat. L. 7'2 1 ) a ph\ sieian-general had been authorized. 
The work of the medical department consists of investigating the sanitary 
condition of the army, of caring fox the sick and wounded, of making 
physical examinations of officers and enlisted men, of the management and 
control of military hospitals, the control of the hospital corps and the army 
nurse corps, and of furnishing medical and hospital supplies. For fuller 
in format ion relating to tlic history and duties of this department see Military 
Laws of the United States, 1901 (pp. 888 888), "Legislative History of 
the General Staff" (pp. 861-862), Ilamersly's "Army Register, 1779- 
1879 " (second part. pp. 881-879), Army Regulations, 1904 (art. LXXVII), 
and Harper B. Brown's " Medical Department of the U. S. Army, 1775- 
L878" (Washington, 1873). The annual reports of the surgeon-general 
contain detailed accounts of the work of the department from year to year, 
while a list of its publications is to be found in S. Ex. Doc. 47, 47 Cong., 
1 sess. Finally " The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the 
Rebellion" (8 vols., Washington, 1870) should be noted. 

The files of the Burgeon-general's office can hardly be said to be of his- 
torical value. All papers relating to the pension business of the War De- 
partment, and to the personnel of the medical department and hospital 
corps (except those relating to persons still connected therewith), together 
with all hospital returns, reports of medical officers, and other papers and 
documents relating to the medical or surgical treatment of officers and 
enlisted men in the regular and volunteer armies have been transferred to 
the adjutant-general's office. 

Of the remaining records, the correspondence is of most general interest. 
Both letters sent and letters received commence in 1818 and there are no 
records of earlier date in the office. As illustrative of the character of the 
more valuable portions of this material may be mentioned a letter from 
the surgeon-general to Thomas H. Benton, in 1838, describing the con- 
ditions to be encountered in Florida by would-be settlers, and another 
letter of 1829, in response to a resolution of Congress, containing informa- 
tion relative to the use of liquor in the army. The letters to the Secretary 
of War appear to have most interest. The original letters received to 1871 
are stored in the Army Medical Museum building in chests, and are not 
readily accessible. Lists of useless papers are printed in H. Ex. Doc. 
197, 51 Cong., 1 sess.; and H. Doc. 582, 57 Cong., 1 sess. 



Chief of Engineers. 125 

OFFICE OF THE PAYMASTER-GENERAL. 

The office of Paymaster-General was established in 1775 (resolution of 
June 16, 1775), but in 1787 was merged in that of Commissioner of Army 
Accounts (resolution of March 23, 1787). In 1792 a Paymaster of the 
Army was appointed (1 Stat. L. 280) and in 1816 the pay department, with 
a paymaster-general at its head, was established (3 Stat. L. 297). The 
pay department " has charge of the supply and distribution of and ac- 
counting for funds for the payment of the army, and such other financial 
duties as are specially assigned to it " (Army Regulations, 1 904, art. 
LXXVI). Sketches of the history and duties of the department are con- 
tained in Military Laws of the United States (pp. 347—349), " Legislative 
History of the General Staff " (pp. 443-479), and in a pamphlet of forty- 
five pages published by the paymaster-general's office in 1876: "A Sketch 
of the Organization of the Pay Department, United States Army ". 

The records of the paymaster-general's office are practically without 
historical value. The pay-rolls and other records that throw light on the 
forces and organization of the different comands are in the custody of the 
auditor for the War Department. There are no Revolutionary records in 
this office; the files of letters received are continuous from 1789, of letters 
sent, from 1808. There are two volumes of decisions between 1808 and 
1871. For printed material see " Memoranda, Circulars, and Circular 
Letters of the Paymaster-General's office — July 15, 1862— September 8, 
1874" (Washington, 1875). The records of payments have been trans- 
ferred to the adjutant-general's office. The correspondence is mostly with 
officers of the pay department and with persons having claims on the gov- 
ernment for services or expenses in the army. For lists of records de- 
stroyed as valueless, see H. Ex. Doc. 197, 51 Cong., 1 sess. ; and H. Doc. 
582, 57 Cong., 1 sess. 

CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 

The Corps of Engineers was formally established in 1779 (Journals of 
Congress, March 11, 1779), but was disbanded in 1783 (Journals of Con- 
gress, October 10 and 31, 1783). In 1794 (1 Stat. L. 366) a Corps of 
Artillerists and Engineers was formed, and in 1802 (2 Stat. L. 137) the 
corps of engineers was more completely organized, and made distinct from 
the artillery. Topographical engineers were provided for in 1813 (2 Stat. 
L. 819), and in 1818, a Topographical Bureau, under the chief of engineers, 
was established, which, in 1831, by general orders, was made a distinct and 
independent bureau of the War Department. In 1863, however, it was 
finally merged in the office of the chief of engineers (12 Stat. L. 743). A 
detailed history of the corps of engineers is contained in Hamersly's " Army 



126 Department of War. 

Register, 1779-1879" (second part, pp. 272-301); shorter accounts are 
to be found in Military Laws of the United States, 1901 (pp. 437-488), 
and in "Legislative History of the General Staff" (pp. 483-484). The 
laws relating to the corps and its duties arc fully set forth in each of the 
works mentioned, and the rules governing it are to be found in Army Regula- 
tions. (904 (art. I.XXVIII). The work of the office of the chief of 
engineers is classified under the following heads: fortifications and surveys 
relating thereto, armaments for fortifications, sites for engineer defenses, 
hoards of engineers for defenses, military reservations, land files, public 
buildings and grounds (see In-low under Office of Public Buildings and 
Grounds), Washington Aqueduct, roads and bridges in Yellowstone Park, 
Battalion of Engineers, United States Engineer School and Engineer 
Depot and Post, professional papers and information, personnel, orders, 
improvement of rivers and harbors and surveys relating thereto, bridging 
navigable waters, removal of wrecks obstructing navigation, accounts for 
disbursements, contracts, returns of engineer property and instruments, ap- 
plication for remittances, appropriations and estimates, survey of the lakes, 
explorations and surveys, reconnoissances, maps, instruments, claims. 

The records and files of the office relate to the subjects enumerated above; 
the larger part of tliem are in care of the Mail and Record Division, but 
the maps and papers relating thereto are filed separately. The annual 
reports of the chief of engineers, with their appendixes, contain full accounts 
of the work of the corps from year to year, and thus make accessible the 
more important information contained in the files. Especially is this true 
in regard to reconnoissances and expeditions, the reports of many of which 
are printed in full in the annual reports. For material prior to 1863 the 
reports of the topographical engineers should also be used. Lists of pub- 
lications of the corps of engineers are contained in S. Ex. Doc. 47, 47 Cong., 
1 sess. ; and in a pamphlet printed in 187(5 under the title "List of Publi- 
cations of the Engineers' Department, U. S. Army"; see also "Analytical 
and Topical Index to the Reports of the Chief of Engineers and Officers of 
the Corps of Engineers — 1800-1900", compiled by John McClure (H. Doc. 
439, 57 Cong., 2 sess.). 

The record and index-books of the office are arranged in a number of 
different series, most of which are complete from the respective dates on 
which they commence. The original material for the period prior to 1850 
is, however, very incomplete. It is said in the office that about 1 850 the 
missing papers were sent to the Capitol for preservation. 

It is impracticable to give a complete list of the records and files in this 
office, nor would such a list be of sufficient value to warrant its inclusion in 
this report. It is believed however that the following account adequately 
describes the more important classes of material on file. For lists of useless 



Chief of Engineers. 127 

papers see H. Ex. Doc. 197, 51 Cong., 1 sess. ; and H. Doc. 582, 57 Cong., 
1 sess. 

1. Correspondence. 

This class of material consists of copies and entries of letters sent, and 
briefs of letters received, together with such files of original letters received, 
prior to 1850, as remain in the office, and complete files of letters received 
since 1850. The arrangement of this material is very complicated and need 
not be described in full; it is sufficient to say that it is arranged in various 
series which commence or end with the dates of the many redistributions of 
work among the various divisions of the office, so that letters that form a 
single series in the earlier period may form two or three series in later 
years. The material all relates to the work of the Corps of Engineers, 
and the lists of subjects given above sufficiently suggest its character. 

(a) Letters sent. 

The earliest series commence in 1812; in 1889 there were about 225 
volumes in the various series. Among others may be noted four 
volumes of letters sent relating to internal improvements, 1824— 
1830. 

(b) Letters received. 

(1) Originals. As noted above, the original files of letters received 
prior to 1850 are very incomplete and are so stored away as not 
to be readily accessible. Some letters as early as 1789 are re- 
ported. 

(2) Briefs or records of letters received; the arrangement of this 
class of material is similar to that of the letters sent. The earliest 
series commences in 1806 and relates to fortifications; the next 
is a general series, commencing in 1819. In 1889 there were 
about 110 volumes. 

2. Accounts. 

Appropriation and disbursement ledgers commence in 1840. 

S. Maps, charts, and papers relating thereto. 

(a) Maps, from about 1794 to date (over 50,000). 

This collection probably contains the most valuable material in the office. 
The larger part of the maps relate to the ordinary work of the corps in time 
of peace, and many of them, such as those relating to surveys of the lakes, 
etc., are published. There are however very many maps of battlefields 
(some of which are published), of fortifications and defenses (considered 
confidential), of explorations, reconnoissances, etc. These maps are at 
present badly crowded, but are arranged as well as possible under the 
circumstances, and a card-index to them is in preparation. 

(b) Field books, etc. 



128 Department of War. 

Filed with the maps are field books, surveyors' records, and other papers 
relating to the operations or work represented on the maps. The larger 
part of this class of material is technical, hut there arc many books of great 
interest for the accounts of movements and expeditions they contain. As 
illustrative of this class may be mentioned a journal, kept by Major Howell 
Tatum, in 181 1 and IS1.">, of General Jackson's march from the junction of 
the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers to Mobile. Pensacola and New Orleans, 
including a description of the battle at the latter place, January 8, 1815; 
also Lieutenant EL S. Williamson's journal of Captain Warner's expedi- 
tion from Benicia, California, to Goose Lake. Oregon, 18V.), including an 
account of the death of Captain Warner at tlie hands of the Indians. 



OFFICE OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. 

The care and maintenance of the public buildings and grounds within the 
District of Columbia devolved upon the Chief Engineer of the Army by the 
act of March 'J. 1867 (1 ^ Stat. L. 166), .and the Ofh'cc of Public Buildings 
and Grounds became an office under the chief of engineers, in the War 
Department. This office had its origin in January, 1701, when, under the 
act of July 16, 1790 (1 Stat. L. 130), President Washington appointed 
three commissioners, whose duties were to survey and lay out the city of 
Washington, its parks, streets, squares, and lots, to direct the sale of land, 
and to supervise the erection of public buildings; in short, these original 
commissioners were empowered to construct a city. By the act of May 1, 
1802 (2 Stnt. L. 175), the commissioners were discontinued in office and 
their powers transferred to the newly created office of superintendent, 
designated by a later act (2 Stat. L. 235) as Superintendent of the City 
of Washington. As the duties of this office grew more numerous, those 
relating to buildings came to be exercised by separate commissioners, while 
the superintendent was chiefly concerned with the surveying and disposition 
of land. In 1817 (3 Stat. L. 324) the office of superintendent ceased to 
exist, and that of commissioner was created in its place. The duties of 
the commissioner were identical with those of the original commissioners, 
thus bringing the superintendence of both buildings and grounds under one 
officer. In 18G7, as stated above, the office of commissioner was abolished 
and its duties devolved upon the chief engineer of the army. The legal 
history of the office is given in full in the annual report of the officer in 
charge, for 1900 (Report of Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army, 1900, part 
8, pp. 5273-5280). 

At present the office of Public Buildings and Grounds is charged with 
the supervision and maintenance of public grounds, such as parks, reser- 
vations, circles, playgrounds, etc., of the Washington Monument, of public 



Office of Public Buildmgs and Grounds. 129 

buildings, including the White House, except such as are otherwise pro- 
vided for by law (e. g., the Capitol), and of all public statues and monu- 
ments within the District of Columbia; it also keeps a record of all sales 
of public lots within the District. 

The records of the office show the disposition of lots within the city and 
the expenditures for the maintenance of buildings and grounds, such for 
example as those for the furnishings and care of the White House; in 
short, they are the records of the performance by the Federal Government 
of various municipal functions. The work of the office from year to year 
since 1867 is described in detail in the annual reports made by the officer 
in charge to the chief of engineers, and printed in the annual reports of 
the latter officer to the Secretary of War. 

Old Records of the City of Washington. 

The records of most historical interest on file in the office of Public Build- 
ings and Grounds are known as the " Old records of the City of Wash- 
ington ". These are the books, correspondence, maps, papers, etc., kept by 
the commissioners and the superintendent prior to 1867, when the office was 
transferred to the War Department. They are not complete; from before 
1867 until 1884 they were kept in the Capitol basement in charge of a 
messenger, accessible to all who wished to see them, but in the latter year 
they were removed to the Winder building, and in 1888 to the State, War, 
and Navy building, where they are now properly cared for, arranged, and 
indexed. A short history of this collection is contained in the annual report 
of the office for 1895 (Report of the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army, 1895, 
part 7, pp. 4150-4151), while a list of the papers, books, and maps is con- 
tained in the report for 1900 (ibid., 1900, part 8, pp. 5281-5283). In 
the same document (ibid., pp. 5283-5286) is a detailed list of all papers 
on file in the State Department " relative to the affairs of the Federal Dis- 
trict and the City of Washington ", as well as a list of the records in the 
office of the surveyor of the District of Columbia ' relating to the early 
history of the City of Washington ", which latter should probably be filed 
in the office of Public Buildings and Grounds. The following list is com- 
piled from the published list referred to above and from notes made during 
an examination of the records themselves. 1 

1 The Columbia Historical Society of Washington is about to publish a volume of 
the documents herein described, chiefly letters of General Washington relating to 
the "Federal City" and the District of Columbia. 



10 



130 Deportment of War. 

Correspondence, proceedings, etc. 

1. Letters of the commissioners of ]>til>lic grounds and buildings of the city 

of Washington, 1701-1SO2 (6 vols.), 1815-1888, 1836-1840, 1861- 

1881 (15 vols.). 
These are both letters received and scut; the early ones, those of the orig- 
inal commissioners, Peter Charles I. Enfant, Andrew Ellicott, Nicholas King, 
and Robert King, >r., arc of especial interest, as they relate to the very 
beginnings of the city and discuss the problems arising in connection there- 
with. A series of fourteen books containing copies of letters of the com- 
missioners, 1T'.»J-1T!>8, appears to duplicate part of the series already 
described. A one-volome index of letters received and a similar one for 
letters snit make these letters readily accessible. 

2. Official letters received March 11, 1791-March 15, 1869 (1 vol.). 
These Letters are from the presidents and relate primarily to the city of 

Washington, although some few other subjects are treated. There are 122 
letters in all. of which Washington wrote fifty-five (1791— 1 7 ! ) 7 ) ; John 
Ad mis. six; Jefferson, thirty-seven; Madison, seven; Monroe, one; Jackson, 
one; Van Bnren, three; Tyler, one; Taylor, one; Fillmore, two; Pierce, one; 
Buchanan, lour; Johnson, three. 

;. Proceedings of the commissioners, 1791-April 2, 1795, October 25, 1796- 
1802 (5 vols.), 1816-1816 (1 vol.), 1838-181,0 (1 vol.). 
These volumes contain the records of the resolutions and actions of the 
commissioners, and serve to supplement their correspondence. A one-vol- 
ume index to them has been prepared. 

Accounts. 

The following books and papers relating to the accounts pertaining to 
buildings and grounds are on file in the office; their historical value is 
probably very slight, and items of importance can be obtained from a de- 
tailed list of "Expenditures in the District of Columbia, July 16, 1790, 
to June 30, 1876", printed in S. Ex. Doc. 84, 45 Cong., 2 sess. (1) 
Ledgers, 17Itl-18<;7 (17 vols.); (2) journal, October 17, 1791-May 10, 
1851 (7 vols.), 1857-1861 (2 vols.); (3) cash-books, 1851-1857 (4 vols.); 
(4) appropriation-book, 1849-1853 (1 vol.); (5) requisition-book, 1856- 
1860 (1 vol.); (6) bank-account books of public buildings and grounds, 
1854-1860; (7) check stubs, 1815-1869; (8) cancelled checks, 1851-1866; 
(9) certificates of deposit, 1863-1806; (10) abstract of notes deposited in 
bank, 1838; (11) receipted accounts, 1793-1867; (12) comptrollers' settle- 
ments of accounts, 1820-1867. 

Miscellaneous papers relating chiefly to disposition of lots. 

The records showing the disposition of lots are nearly complete, but the 
more important information contained in them is in print: "List of lots 



Office of the Chief of Ordnance. 131 

belonging to the United States and list of lots donated by the Government " 
(S. Doc. 106, 56 Cong., 2 sess.) ; " List of lots sold by the Government " 
(S. Doc. 32, 56 Cong., 2 sess., with errata in S. Doc. 70, 57 Cong., 1 sess.) ; 
" List of squares and lots assigned to the original proprietors of lands 
within the original limits of the City of Washington, as per terms of agree- 
ment between the commissioners of public buildings and the proprietors, 
March SO, 1791 " (S. Doc. 18, 57 Cong., 1 sess.). The following original 
records are on file in the office: 

(1) Original proprietors' accounts and divisions of squares (in various 
series), 1791-1809; (2) records of sales of lots, 1791-1802; (3) selection 
of lots by Greenleaf, Morris, and Nicholson, 1794-1797; (4) deeds of ex- 
change and conveyance for Carrollsburg and Hamburg, and redivision of 
lots in those sections, 1790—1791; (5) plans, deeds, plat-books, assignments 
of lots, agreements, bonds, etc.; (6) contracts, 1791—1866; (7) proposals, 
1795—1866; (8) estimates for repairs, materials, etc., 1816—1866; (9) in- 
struments signed by Presidents Washington and Adams approving the 
Dermott plan, 1797-1798; (10) soundings of the Potomac River, 1795-1796. 
Maps. 

(1) The original plan of L'Enfant, 1791; (2) copies of parts of 
L'Enfant's plan, by J. R. Dermott; (3) Dermott's approved map of Wash- 
ington, 1795; (4) plan showing water lots, 1797; (5) plan of wharves, by 
N. King, 1797; (6) map of Washington, by N. King, probably 1797; (7) 
Navy Yard reservation, 1799; (8) plat of ground west of present Botanic 
Gardens, probably 1802; (9) plan of grounds adjacent to Capitol, 1822; 
(10) maps of Kalorama, showing first boundary stone; (11) plan for arch- 
ing Tiber Creek, 1864; (12) real estate maps, plans of various parts of the 
city, engineering plans, copies of old maps, etc. 



OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE. 

In 1794 (1 Stat. L. 352) an officer was appointed to superintend, under 
the War Department, " the receiving, safe-keeping, and distribution of the 
military stores of the United States ", and in the following year (1 Stat. 
L. 419) a "purveyor of public supplies" was appointed in the Treasury 
Department, whose duty it was " to conduct the procuring and providing of 
all arms, military . . . stores . . . and generally all articles of supply 
requisite for the service of the United States". In 1812 the ordnance de- 
partment was established with a commissary-general of ordnance at its head 
(2 Stat. L. 732); in 1821 it was merged in the artillery (3 Stat. L. 615) j 
in 1832 however (4 Stat. L. 504) it was re-established as an independent 
bureau. The duties of the department consist in procuring and distributing 
the necessary ordnance and ordnance supplies for the government and in 



132 Department of War. 

establishing and maintaining arsenals and depots for their manufacture and 
safe-keeping. For its history and duties see Military Laws of the United 
States, 1901 (pp. l'-s 159), "Legislative History of the General Staff " 
(pp. 533-531), Army Regulations, 1904 (art. LXXIX), Hamersly's "Army 
Register, 1779 1879" (pp. 302-308), T. T. S. Laidley's "History of the 
Ordnance Department" (1871), and "The Ordnance Department as a 
Portion of the United State-- Military Establishment" (Washington, 1870). 
The work of the department is described in full in the annual reports of 
the chief of ordnance, and it is probable tli.it the larger part of the ma- 
terial of any historical \alue on file in the office is printed in "Ordnance 
Reports", a compilation with the full title of "A Collection of Annual 
Hi ports and Other Important Papers relating to the Ordnance Department, 
t iki ii from the Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, from Public 
Documents, and from Other Sources " (1 vols., covering the years 1812— 
1889, Washington, 1878-1890). Finally there is to be found in the office 
a collection of all documents relating to the ordnance department, since 
1823. This includes the publications of the ordnance department, which 
are in two series, "Ordnance Memoranda" (Nos. 1-23, 1803-1878) and 
" Ordnance Notes " ( Nos. 1-357, 1873-1881); a complete list of the latter 
is in " Subject Catalogue No. g ", War Department library. 

Tin- records and files of this office have comparatively little general in- 
terest, being Largely technical in character; they consist of correspondence 
and accounts. Letters received are reported to be on file from December 
.">. 1797, and the copies of letters sent are to be found in about 1,500 letter- 
books from 1812. The records of correspondence arc in various series, as 
letters to the Secretary of War, commencing August 8, 1812; miscellaneous 
letters, beginning August 1, 1812; letters to ordnance officers and establish- 
ments, commencing March 8, 1889; registers of letters received, commencing 
June 1, 1817; records of orders for supplies sent to the various ordnance 
establishments, March 2'.), 181 it, as well as indexes to correspondence, etc. 
The earliest accounts commence on December 7, 1812; this class of records 
is arranged in different series, commencing at different times; they relate 
to appropriations, remittances, estimates, contracts, claims, sales, stores 
lost, disbursements at arsenals, etc. 

The earlier files are inaccessible at present, being badly crowded, and 
mot arranged for use. Lists of useless papers are contained in H. Ex. Doc. 
i97, 51 Cong., 1 sess. ; and H. Doc. 582, 57 Cong., 1 sess. 



OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER. 

The office of Signal Officer of the Army was created in I860 (12 Stat. L. 
61), and the signal corps, with a chief signal officer at its head, was pro- 



Bureau of Insular Affairs. 133 

visionally established in 1863 (12 Stat. L. 744). In 1870 the duties of 
what is now the Weather Bureau were added to those of military signalling 
(16 Stat. L. 369), but in 1890 they were transferred to the Department of 
Agriculture (26 Stat. L. 653). The chief signal officer is charged "with 
the construction, repair, and operation of military cables, telegraphic and 
telephonic lines and wireless installations, field telegraph trains, balloon 
trains, and furnishing and installing instruments and connecting cables used 
for transmitting information in connection with fire control at seacoast 
fortifications ; with the preparation . . . and revision of the War Depart- 
ment telegraphic code; with the supervision of . . . instruction in mili- 
tary signalling and telegraphy . . . ; with the procurement ... of the 
necessary supplies. . . . He has charge of all military signal duties, and 
of books, papers, and devices connected therewith, . . . ; of collecting and 
transmitting information for the Army . . . and all other duties per- 
taining to military signalling " (Army Regulations, 1904, art. LXXX). 

Accounts of the history of the signal corps and of its duties, and of the 
legislation relating thereto, are to be found in Military Laws of the United 
States, 1901 (pp. 460-465); "Legislative History of the General Staff" 
(pp. 611-627); and in an article by Lieutenant W. A. Glassford entitled 
" Historical Sketch of the Signal Corps, United States Army " in the 
" Journal of the Military Service Institution " (1891). 

The work of the signal corps from year to year is fully described in the 
annual reports of the chief signal officer. In the annual report for 1891 
(pp. 389 ff.) is a list of the " publications of the U. S. Signal Service from 
1861 to July 1, 1891 ". Most of the publications, however, relate to the 
meteorological work of the service rather than to its military operations. 

The records of the office of the chief signal officer are of little value his- 
torically. The important documents relating to the operations of the signal 
corps during the Civil War are printed in the " Official Records of the War 
of the Rebellion ". Upon the organization of the Weather Bureau in the 
Department of Agriculture, in 1891, all the meteorological records were 
transferred to that bureau, while the rolls, together with other material, have 
been transferred to the adjutant- general's office. For lists of papers de- 
stroyed as valueless see H. Ex. Doc. 197, 51 Cong., 1 sess. ; and H. Doc. 
582, 57 Cong., 1 sess. 

BUREAU OF INSULAR AFFAIRS. 

In December, 1898, a Division of Customs and Insular Affairs was estab- 
lished in the office of the Secretary of War for the conduct of all business 
relating to the civil (as distinguished from the purely military) phases of 
government in Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines; in December, 1900, 



134 Department of War. 

the designation of tlic division was changed by department orders to that of 
Division of Insular Affairs, and the following year, by act of July 1, 1902 
(32 Stat. L. 712), the office was established as the Bureau of Insular Affairs, 
thus becoming a regular War Department bureau. In the annual report of 
the chief of the Division of Insular Affairs for 1901 (appendix G) is an 
account of the beginnings of the bureau, while in that report and in the 
bureau reports lor subsequent years is much information relating to its 
Organisation and working. 

The original material on file in this bureau, consisting of correspondence 
and regular governmental records, is of great interest for its bearing 
upon the ' st lUislunent of civil government by military authorities. Much 
of the summarized information to be obtained from it, as well as many 
of the original documents themseh es. have been published by Congress 
or by the executive departments. A list of such publications relating to 
the Philippines K to be found in the " Bibliography of the Philippine 
Islands S. Doe. 7 1. .*>7 Cong., 2 Bess.) under heads "United States Gov- 
ernment Documents", "Congressional Documents", and "Consular Re- 
ports ". The bureau has made a special effort to collect all publications 
of the home and insular governments, which have been bound into over 300 
volumes and thoroughly indexed. The annual reports of the Secretary of 
War. with lluir appendixes, as well as the reports of the bureau, contain 
a gri of information as well as many documents from the files of the 

bureau. 

I. lti.roBTs of tiik Law Officer. 

The law officer of the Bureau of Insular Affairs investigates and reports 
upon all questions of law arising in the administration of civil affairs under 
the jurisdiction of the War Department. Many of these questions relate 
to subjects of gre at importance, such as the law of military occupation, the 
status of the acquired territories, the status of Spanish law, rights of indi- 
viduals and communities, claims against the United States, etc. (see appendix 
A of the annual report of the chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs for 
1901, in which the duties of the law officer are given in detail, and a list of 
titles of reports submitted shows more fully their scope and character; the 
annual report for 1903 also contains a detailed account of the work of the 
law officer). These reports are considered confidential, but a number of the 
more important and representative ones have been published by the War 
Department: " Reports on the Law of Civil Government in Territory sub- 
ject to Military Occupation by the Military Forces of the United States", 
by Charles E. Magoon (1902). 



Bureau of Insular Affairs. 135 

II. Correspondence and General Records. 

The Records Division files and makes a record of all correspondence, re- 
ports, orders, circulars, and other papers relating to the civil government 
of the islands. The correspondence constitutes the most important class of 
unprinted material in this division; it dates from the latter part of 1898 
and fills several hundred file-boxes. Letters received and letters sent are 
filed together in a single numerical series, but there is also a separate series 
of press copies of letters sent, bound in chronological order in volumes. 
The correspondence, together with the other material on file, is indexed so 
completely that not only can any particular letter be located at once, but all 
letters and papers bearing on any particular subject can readily be found. 
The correspondence is between the bureau and officers of the home and island 
governments, congressmen, and the general public. It relates to a great 
variety of subjects, such as customs tariffs and regulations, navigation, 
foreign and coastwise trade, emigration and Chinese exclusion, local govern- 
ments, courts, laws, extradition, education and establishment of schools, 
public lands, land titles, mines, forestry, franchises and concessions, claims, 
patents and trade-marks, banks, currency, depositories, railroads, insular 
accounts, etc. (see appendixes B and C of the annual report for 1901 for a 
more detailed account of the various kinds of correspondence and of the 
methods of recording and indexing). 

III. Accounts. 

The Bureau of Insular Affairs has charge of all the accounts of receipts 
and expenditures of the government of intervention in Cuba, of the military 
government of Porto Rico, and of the government of the Philippines. De- 
tailed statements of the receipts and expenditures of the military govern- 
ment in Cuba to June 30, 1900, are printed as S. Docs. 177, 56 Cong., 1 
sess.; and 448, 57 Cong., 1 sess. Similar statements covering the period 
from July 1, 1900, to the close of the first American occupation have been 
prepared (see H. Doc. 419, 57 Cong., 2 sess.). The receipts and expendi- 
tures of the civil government in the Philippines to June 30, 1901, are stated 
in S. Doc. 382, 57 Cong., 1 sess. For fuller descriptions of these accounts 
and of the system of accounting, the annual reports of the bureau for 1901 
(appendix D), for 1902 (under " Insular Accounts "), and for 1903 (under 
" Receipts and Expenditures of the Philippine Islands " and " The Late 
Military Government of Cuba ") may be referred to. 

IV. Philippine Insurgent Records. 

The records of the Philippine insurgent government, which were captured 
in various parts of the archipelago, were originally filed in the Division of 



136 Department of War. 

Military Information, Headquarters, Division of the Philippines, in obedi- 
ence to orders tli.it .ill captured documents should be sent to that division. 
After the close of the insurrection they were sent to Washington and de- 
livered to the Bureau of Insular A Hairs. These papers are about 200,000 
in Qlimber, and weigh three tons; they vary from mere scraps of torn paper 
to entire volumes, and are for the larger part in Spanish, though there are 
many in Tagalog and other Philippine and eastern languages. They cover 
the period of the insurrection from 1806 to 1901 and consist of correspond- 
ence, treasury hooks, records of proceedings of various bodies, records of 
municipalities, decrees and correspondence of the dictatorial and presidential 
governments, of provincial and municipal authorities, of the Hongkong junta, 
of the president and council of government, of the secretaries of the 

Treasury, Interior, and War, and papers dealing with the relations with the 
Spanish authorities. These documents constitute the chief original source 
of information relating bo the history of the insurgent government, and the 

Value of the collection as such is necessarily very great. It is reported how- 
ever by the officer in charge of indexing and arranging these papers that 
by far the larger part (121,096 documents) are of no value, being "merely 
personal or routine correspondence, or the routine papers of municipalities". 
These papers of little or no value have been arranged by subjects in 428 
bundles. The remaining 12,201 documents have been arranged and filed 
in 2,084 Polders in such a way as to insure their preservation, and have been 
can fully indexed, while in the case of the more important ones translations 
have been filed with the original documents. There are further 129 volumes 
of letter-books, treasury books, records of proceedings, etc., which have also 
indexed. 
At present these records are not open to investigators, but the important 
ones are being prepared for publication by Captain J. R. M. Taylor, who 
has been in charge of the collection from the beginning, and who has super- 
vised its arrangement and indexing. The plan of publication is submitted 
in the annual report of the bureau for 1903, under the heading " Captured 
Philippine Insurgent Documents " and the first volume has already ap- 
peared: "Compilation of Philippine Insurgent Records" (Washington, 
1903). 

V. Records of the Fibst Occupation of Cuba. 

The complete records of the American occupation of Cuba are in the 
custody of the Bureau of Insular Affairs. They comprise the accounts of 
all receipts and expenditures mentioned above, and the other original papers 
of all kinds, such as drafts of executive orders, reports, vouchers, contracts, 
paid checks, money orders, correspondence, customs entries, etc., relating to 
the administration of the government of intervention. They have been 
classified and arranged for purposes of reference, are stored in a fire-proof 
building, and are thought to have an aggregate weight of about 110 tons. 



Department of Justice. 137 



DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. 

The office of Attorney-General was established in 1789 (1 Stat. L. 93). 
In 1870 the Department of Justice was created, having as its head the 
Attorney-General, and containing the newly-created office of solicitor-gen- 
eral, the offices of solicitor of the treasury and solicitor of internal revenue, 
transferred from the Treasury Department; the office of examiner of claims, 
transferred from the State Department; and the office of naval solicitor, 
transferred from the Navy Department (16 Stat. L. 162). In 1878 the 
office of naval solicitor was abolished (20 Stat. L. 205). An excellent ac- 
count of the history and duties of the Department of Justice, containing 
much information relative to its records, is contained in " The Department 
of Justice: its History and Functions", by James S. Easby-Smith (Wash- 
ington, Lowdermilk, 1904). Part m. of the " Cockrell Report" (S. Rept. 
507, 50 Cong., 1 sess.) contains a detailed account of the methods of business 
in the department, which, for the light it throws on the kinds of records and 
the methods of filing and indexing them, is of value at the present time, 
although the organization of the department has undergone some few 
changes since the date of that report. 

The records and files of the Department of Justice are complete from 
the date of its establishment, July 1, 1870, but those of the Attorney- 
General's office prior to 1870 are very incomplete and do not antedate 1809. 
There was no systematic attempt to preserve the files of the office until 1817; 
the Attorneys-General prior to that date are said to have regarded their 
papers as personal property and to have taken them with them on retiring 
from office. Certain letters and opinions of the Attorneys-General, 1792— 
1810, are now in the Department of State (see above, Bureau of Rolls and 
Library, III., 10) and other records of an early date are said to be stored in 
boxes in the basement of the Court of Claims, but in 1817 these files were 
not in the Department of Justice. Attorney-General Wirt in an entry in 
his writing, at the beginning of the earliest record book (November 13, 
1817) states that he finds "no book, documents, or papers of any kind", 
and is determined to commence the keeping of regular records. He urged 
upon the President, and, in a letter of March 18, 1818, upon Hon. Hugh 
Nelson, chairman of the House committee on the judiciary, the necessity of 
a fixed appropriation for clerk hire that the files might be arranged and 
kept in safety. Although the appropriation was not granted at once the 
records were preserved from that date. 

The records of the Department of Justice are supplemented by various 



138 Department of Justice. 

groups of papers in the Patents and Miscellaneous Division of the office of 
the Secretary of the Interior (I. 5, III., V). Certain functions of the 
Department of Justice were at one time performed by the Department of 
the Interior. 

The annual reports of the Attorney-General, published from 1870 to date, 
serve to indicate the important eases, etc., relating to which material is on 
Bit, and in S. Ex. Doe. 109, 17 Cong., 1 sess. is a list of the publications of 
the Attorney-General's office and of the Department of Justice from 1789 
to 1881 which serves, BO far as it goes, as a guide to the rather large amount 
of material from among the records that has been printed, especially in the 
congressional B( rid of documents. Access to the records of the department 
can be had only on application to the Attorney-General or to the chief clerk. 

The library of the Department of Justice was started in 1831. It has 
now about 80,000 volumes, almost exclusively legal in character. It has 
excellent collections of English, Scotch, Irish, and Canadian reports, of 
state reports, digests and laws, of treatises on jurisprudence, and of foreign 
books. The books seized upon the American occupation of the City of 
Mexico were placed here about 1853, and include some rare and valuable 
volumes. Catalogues of the library have been published at various times; 
the latest being " Catalogue of the Library of the Department of Justice, 
to September 1, l!>0i ", by James A. Finch, Librarian (Washington, 11)04). 

OFFICE OF CHIEF CLERK. 

The general records and files of the Department of Justice, or more 
properly speaking, of the Attorney-General's office, are preserved in the 
office of the chief clerk. They are in three main groups: papers received, 
papers sent, and opinions. 

I. Papers Received. 

The papers received among what are known as the " old files " (those 
antedating the establishment of the Department of Justice in 1870) extend 
from 1809 to 1870 and fill 520 file-boxes. They are very incomplete, the 
papers before 1830 being very few in number, and as late as 1885 (see 
annual report of Attorney-General, 1885, p. 30) were wholly unarranged. 
Since then, however, they have been given a rough chronological arrange- 
ment. Among these files may be noted, as illustrative of their character: 
papers relating to the cases of the United States vs. Brigantine Mars, 1809; 
of Flor de Guadiano vs. United States, 1813; of H. G. Campbell vs. the 
Mabel and Cargo, 1814; of the Ship Fanny, 1814; of the Spanish brig 
General Blake vs. United States, 1814; a copy of the bill of sale of the 
British squadron captured in Lake Champlain, September 11, 1814; a 
partial list of abandoned lands in North Carolina, 18G5; a resolution of loyal 



Office of Chief Clerk. 139 

citizens in Mobile in regard to relations with the United States, 1865; a 
letter from General Reynolds relative to the pardoning of Arkansas rebels, 
1865, and papers relating to customs cases, naturabzation, Indian treaties, 
etc. 

The papers received from 1870 to 1884 are filed by states and territories 
in over 350 boxes, and are indexed in 166 volumes. 

The papers received from 1884 to date are filed in accordance with a 
numerical system, and are indexed under a three- fold classification: (1) 
United States attorneys and marshals; (2) executive departments; (3) 
miscellaneous. In the " Cockrell Report " is a detailed account of the 
method of filing and indexing. 

II. Papers Sent. 

The letter-books, containing the letters sent, extend from 1817 to 1904, 
at which latter date the practice of keeping letter-books was discontinued, 
and copies of the letters sent were filed in accordance with a numerical 
system. Until 1890 fair copies of letters were written out in large ledger 
volumes. Beginning in 1870 books of press copies were kept, so that for 
the period between 1870 and 1890, a number of series contain duplicate 
volumes. In the account given below the series of fair and press copies are 
noted separately. The letters (and also the opinions) have been indexed, 
since 1884, under a six- fold classification: (1) United States attorneys and 
marshals; (2) executive departments; (3) general opinions; (4) opinions 
on titles and sites for public buildings; (5) judges and clerks; (6) miscel- 
laneous. 
1. Letters to the President, to heads of departments, and to Congress. 

(a) Fair copies, February 16, 1871-April 30, 1890 (23 vols.). 

(b) Press copies, February 28, 1871-April 12, 1904 (172 vols.). 

Many letters in this series are of purely routine character. Such are 
letters to the Secretary of State regarding the issuance of commissions, re- 
quests to the President for official allowance for claims in special cases, and 
letters to congressmen relating to appointments or stating action taken in 
response to complaints from their constituents. With these are other letters 
of greater importance; suggestions to the chairmen or members of con- 
gressional committees as to proposed legislation and advice to the President 
as to the constitutionality of measures submitted to him for his approval 
show the connection existing between the Attorney-General and the law- 
making power. Letters to the Secretary of War defining the relation exist- 
ing between the government and the railroads in the matter of land grants 
(October 23, 1871), reports to the Secretary of the Treasury as to action 
taken against the perpetrators of frauds in the collection of the revenues, 
and letters to the President regarding the prosecution of men implicated in 



140 Department of Justice. 

the Ku Klux movement (December 20, 1871) or the degree of military pro- 
tection to be given to voters at a presidential election (October 20, 187G, 
election in Mississippi) indicate other fields of action for the department. 
Additional illustrative letters are those of April '20, 1877, and June 30, 
1880, to the Secretary of the Interior regarding trespass upon public 
timber lands in Louisiana and Minnesota respectively, and one of June 8, 

1S77, to the Secretary of War asking for a certified copy of the accounts 
of Brigham Yonng when Indian agent in Utah during the last half of 1857. 
Occasiona] opinions are found in this series. 

.'. I list ructions to United States attorneys and marshals. 

(a) lair copies. December 24, 1807-April 30, 185)0 (31 vols.). (January 

17. I SSI .Inly :>. 1881- missing.) 

(b) Press copies. December '.». IS 70 March 81, 1904 (862 vols.). 

The genera] character of the letters in this scries is indicated by their 
designation as " letters of instruction ". It may be added that in distinction 
from series '■'< Quest letters relate to legal procedure. The close connection 
with si Tics 1 is shown by the numerous letters directing United States mar- 
shals and attorneys as to their action in matters brought to the attention of 
the Attorney-Genera] by the executive departments. In the case of the 
State Department these directions are for proceedings against violations of 
neutrality in the rumored invasion of Canada by the Fenians in 1800 (letters 
of July 27, September K»). in the Cuban insurrection, 1870, in the Franco- 
Prnssian War in the same year (October 8, 14), and in the filibustering 
expeditions against Mexico (January 23, 1877). Frequent letters relat- 
ing to the prosecution of defaulting officials of national banks (October 9, 
December 13, 1881), or to cases arising under the internal-revenue laws 
(October 15, 1880) show a like co-operation with the Treasury Department, 
and letters of inquiry as to need for United States troops (October 24, 
1889) in Indian Territory indicate corresponding relations with the Secre- 
tary of War. Other and more routine instructions give directions as to 
the proper mode of taking testimony for use in judicial proceedings, the 
proper method of presenting accounts against the national government, the 
leasing of buildings occupied by United States officials, the reduction of 
expense in the matter of deputies or other assistants, and the importance 
of United States officials receiving " no compensation from private parties 
for any official duty or for anything done in connection with any official duty 
without express authority of law ". Interesting single letters warn against 
encroachments upon state jurisdiction (May 17, 1877, to Charles E. Mayer, 
United States attorney, Huntsville, Alabama), but where the jurisdiction 
is clearly established (to Lewis E. Parsons, same district, October 23, 
1889) insist as strenuously that all be done "to make the people of the 
country realize that the United States is a Government ". 



Office of Chief Clerk. 141 

3. Letters to United States attorneys, marshals, and others, 
(a) Fair copies, March 12, 1 849-February 13, 1884 (25 vols.). 
(6) Press copies, February 26, 1877-February 13, 1884 (11 vols.). An 
earlier volume of press copies is missing. 
This series of letters is concerned with the expense incidental to the 
maintenance of the district and circuit courts of the United States. Among 
these expenses may be noted the rental and furnishing of buildings or 
offices for the use of courts, attorneys, or marshals, and allowances for the 
care and conveyance of prisoners, for the employment of deputies, for the 
payment of witness fees, and for the salaries of the more important court 
officials. The series of fair copies is divided into two parts: 17 volumes 
furnish the record before the establishment of a distinct Department of 
Justice in 1870, and 7 volumes continue that record until February, 1884. 
In addition there is one volume separately listed by the Department and 
containing rough notes as to the buildings under rental at the time of the 
transfer of authority from the Department of the Interior to the newly 
established Department of Justice with a few items of later date. Although 
the majority of the letters in this series are of a routine character and of 
little interest, certain of them are useful for a history of the judiciary in 
the South, 1863—1881. Others illustrate the manner in which the Wash- 
ington office endeavored to secure exactness in accounting from its agents 
throughout the country, and uniformity of treatment for offenders against 
national laws. After 1884 the letters of this series appear to have been 
filed in the series of " Instructions " or in that of " Letters to United States 
judges and clerks". The 11 volumes of press copies are only of the letters 
written by Henry Hodges when law clerk of the department and cover but 
a short period in the history of the office. 

J/.. Letters to United States judges and clerks. 

(a) Fair copies, January 2, 1874-April 29, 1890 (4 vols.). 

(&) Press copies, August 20, 1875-March 31, 1904 (45 vols.). 

This series is supplementary to series 3 and 5, and before 1874 its letters 
were included in those series. The letters are largely formal in character 
and relate to such subjects as the receipt or transmission of printed volumes 
of judicial decisions or manscript copies of other court records, the disposi- 
tion of money paid in judgments to the courts addressed, settlements of 
accounts by clerks of courts, grants of leaves of absence to judges or other 
officers, and general directions as to methods of court procedure. Occasional 
letters state the opinion held by the Attorney-General as to the interpretation 
of law, but very few relate to specific cases even when an opinion is requested, 
the department usually holding that a decision by the Attorney-General upon 
a specific case must necessarily be based upon an incomplete knowledge of 
the points at issue and would tend inevitably to weaken the independence of 



142 Department of Justice. 

the local judge (Attorney-Genera] Williams to J. W. Fisher, C.J., Wyoming, 
January 28, 1874). Among the letters are frequent requests for informa- 
tion as to the character and habits of applicants for judicial offices, especially 
in the more thickly settled portions of the country. After 1881 many letters 
are found in these and the " Miscellaneous " files which before that date 

would line been classed in the preceding scries. 

5. Letters to inisielliuieoiis pcrsonx. 

(a) Fair copies, 1817-April SO, 1890 (20 vols.). 

(o) Press copies, July i. 1870 March 81, 1904 (l 18 vols.). 

These volumes contain practically all the letters sent out from the At- 
torney-General's office prior to 1849 of which there is an official record and, 
together with the volumes of opinions, furnish most of our information as 
to the work of the department before 1870. What has been said regard- 
ing the character of the Letters found in 1 1 • < - series beginning at a later date 
applies to the letters found in the earlier volumes of this series. Significant 
letters to congressmen and cabinet officials alternating with subscriptions to 
oewspapers indicate the scope of this collection. An important letter to 
Benjamin Hcmans of the Navy Department, dated October 10, 1810, con- 
siders the powers of the President under the act prohibiting the slave trade, 
and another to the Supreme Court (March 11, 1820) asks that body to hear 
additional and more explicit argument in the case of the " Amiable Isabella ", 

If the doubts of the Court still remain". Other letters which woidd have 
been placed in a different series had they been written later are those of 
Attorney-General Benjamin F. Butler to Levi Woodbury (January 12 and 
21, 1835) giving opinions on the adjustment of land titles in Missouri and 
Florida respectively. At times the Attorney-General declines to give official 
opinions in reply to questions asked by persons not expressly mentioned in 
the law establishing the office, although he occasionally replies that if the 
writer will prevail upon a cabinet officer to ask the question an official opinion 
will be given. Among the persons refused are foreign consuls (January 
15, 1835), officers of the navy (January 23, 1838), congressmen (February 
5, 1835), and the chief clerk of the Department of State (June 26, 1844), 
the latter on the ground that the inquiry did not come directly from the 
head of the department. To do away with this uncertainty Wirt had re- 
quested that the persons to whom opinions could be rendered should be 
clearly specified by law, but the practice of the various attorneys-general 
appears not to have been uniform in this matter. Other letters transmit 
accounts " for services arising under the execution of the fugitive slave law 
in Boston" (July 24, 1857), give instructions to United States attorneys 
and judges (April 21 and 24, 18G5), at the time of the assassination of 
President Lincoln, or instruct the superintendent of a penitentiary (No- 



Assistant Attorney in Charge of Dockets. 143 

vember 17, 1885) as to the treatment of prisoners under the laws of the 
United States. 

III. Opinion's. 

1. Opinions of the Attorneys-General. 

(a) Fair copies, November 17, 1817-May 9, 1892 (30 vols.). 
(6) Press copies, December 14, 1870-July 1, 1904 (32 vols.). 

As indicated by the title these volumes contain official opinions rendered 
by the Attorneys-General to the President, the heads of departments, and In 
later years to the chairmen of congressional committees, respecting the inter- 
pretation to be placed upon various statutes. Many of the opinions have 
been printed in: "Opinions of the Attorneys-General, 1790-1841" (H. 
Ex. Doc. 123, 26 Cong., 2 sess.) ; "Opinions of the Attorneys-General, 
1791-1851 " (H. Ex. Doc. 55, 31 Cong., 2 sess.), and in: " Official Opinions 
of the Attorneys-General of the United States, 1791 " (Washington, 1852). 
In the compilation of these works use has been made of the volume of 
"Letters and Opinions of the Attorney-General, 1792—1810", now in the 
Department of State (see above, Bureau of Rolls and Library, III., 10), and 
of other sources. The opinions in the manuscript volumes described above 
have never been printed in full. The printed works contain also many of 
the less formal opinions given in the letters to cabinet and other officials and 
furnish, with the reports of the Attorneys-General, the best printed indica- 
tion of the character and scope of the material on file. Mention may be 
made also of the " Digest of the Official Opinions of the Attorneys-General 
of the United States, 1789-1881" (Washington, 1885), and "Official 
Opinions of the Assistant Attorneys-General for the Post-Office Department, 
1783- " (Washington, 1905-). 

2. Letters to the solicitor of the treasury, 1880-18^.2- (1 vol.). 
These contain opinions relative to Treasury matters. 

8. Title opinions, 1878-1904. (7 vols.). 
Opinions relating to land titles. 

ASSISTANT ATTORNEY IN CHARGE OF DOCKETS. 

The office of assistant attorney in charge of dockets was established under 
the appropriation act of February 24, 1899. Here are kept, in the form of 
dockets, complete records of all cases, civil and criminal, except those of 
minor importance, in which the United States is interested or is a party, 
instituted in any court, federal or state. Here also are filed the term reports 
of the district attorneys. 



144 Department of Justice. 

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY IN CHARGE OF PARDONS. 

The records of all executive pardons from 1852 to date (except pardons 
in the army and navy, which are recorded in the War and Navy Depart- 
ments) are on file in the office of the pardon-attorney. Records of pardons 
prior to 1852 are preserved in the State Department, Bureau of Appoint- 
ments The papers are arranged by individual eases and consist of reports 
of district attorneys, tri.il judges, and all other persons having official 
knowledge of the case; brief's and opinions of the Attorney-General; corre- 
spondence with the President, records of executive action, and, since 1893, 
copies of tin' warrants. Since 1885 the annual reports of the Attorney- 
General have contained lists of all persons who have been granted pardons 
or whose sentences have lieen commuted during the respective years, to- 
gether with statements of crimes for which convictions were secured, dates 
of sentences and pardons, and statements of sentences and of grounds for 
< zeroising clemency. Earlier published material relating to pardons is in 
H. Ex. Doc. !»:>, M Cong., 1 scss. ; II. Ex. Doc. 10, 40 Cong., 2 sess. ; and 
H. Ex. Doc. 100, 55 Cong., 2 sess. 

Most of the files of this office arc of personal interest only, but some, such 
as those connected with the amnesty cases during the Civil War, are of more 
general interest. In general these papers are confidential, but investigation 
for purely historical purposes of cases not too recent would probably be per- 
mitted. The tiles are admirably arranged and indexed. 

OFFICE OF Till, APPOINTMENT CLERK. 

The files of the office of the appointment clerk consist of applications for 
appointments to the following offices (more than 1,500 in number), together 
with endorsements, recommendations, correspondence, and other papers re- 
lating thereto: United States Supreme Court, Court of Claims, courts of the 
District of Colombia, including justices of the peace, court of private land 
claims, Choctaw and Chickasaw citizenship court, circuit judges, district 
judges, territorial judges, district attorneys, United States marshals, officials 
of the department in Washington, commissioners of deeds of the District of 
Columbia, notaries public in District of Columbia, trustees of reform schools 
in District of Columbia, official and clerical force of the department in 
Washington, United States penitentiaries at Atlanta and Fort Leavenworth, 
assistant district attorneys, special assistant attorneys. 

Much of the correspondence, especially that with the President, should 
be of general interest, particularly in cases of appointments to the higher 
offices ; but the larger part of the papers have probably only a personal inter- 
est. These records are regarded as confidential, but it is probable that use 
of the earlier ones would be permitted for historical purposes. 



Solicitor of the Treasury. 145 

The files prior to 1884 are practically inaccessible, being stored in boxes 
in the Court of Claims building. The files from 1884 to 1901 are arranged 
in bundles by administrations and states, and alphabetically by the names 
of applicants. Those from 1901 to date are preserved in file-cases arranged 
by states and can be readily referred to. 

SOLICITOR OF THE TREASURY. 

In 1820 the office of agent of the treasury was created, the function of 
which was to direct all proceedings for the recovery of money or other 
property due the United States (3 Stat. L. 592). In 1830 this office was 
abolished and that of solicitor of the treasury, with somewhat enlarged 
powers and duties, created (4 Stat. L. 414), which in 1870 was transferred 
to the newly-created Department of Justice (16 Stat. L. 162). The 
solicitor of the treasury is the law officer of the Treasury Department, and 
as such renders opinions on various questions arising in the administration 
of the department: he takes cognizance of all frauds committed or attemped 
on the customs revenue, supervises suits for the collection of money due to 
the United States, except that due under the internal-revenue laws, and 
suits in which the United States is a party that arise out of the laws relative 
to national banking associations. 

The files of the office consist largely of papers relative to suits. These 
papers are docketed under six headings as follows: (1) suits on transcripts 
of accounts of defaulting public officers, excepting those of the Post-Office 
Department, adjusted by the accounting officers of the Treasury Department; 
(2) post-office suits, embracing those against officers of the Post-Office De- 
partment, and cases of fines, penalties, and forfeitures for violation of 
postal laws; (3) suits on customs-house bonds; (4) suits for recovery of fines, 
penalties, and forfeitures under the customs-revenue and navigation laws; 
(5) suits against collectors of customs and other officers and agents of the 
government, excepting internal-revenue officers, for refund of duties and 
acts done in the line of their official duty, including appeals from the de- 
cisions of the board of general appraisers; (6) suits in which the United 
States is a party or is interested and not embraced in the other classes. 
There are also papers relating to suits that are compromised before reaching 
court. The files commence in 1830, although it is said that there are a few 
papers of earlier date and some even as early as 1814. Much of the ma- 
terial contained in these files should be found in the reports and records of 
the courts where suits have been brought. Since 1880 the annual reports 
of the Attorney-General have contained tables showing the amount, character, 
and results of the litigation carried on by the office. In connection with the 
solicitor's office there is a law library, a catalogue of which has been pub- 
11 



146 Department of Justice. 

lished: "Catalogue of the Library of the Office of the Solicitor of the 
Treasury" (Washington, 1894). 



OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY-GENERAL IN CHARGE OF 
CASES BEFORE THE COURT OF CLAIMS. 

OFFICE OF ASSISTANT ATTORNEY-GENERAL IN CHARGE OF INDIAN 

Dl PREDATION CASES. 

The Department of Justice is charged with the defense of all suits against 
the United States in the Court of Claims. These are of the following 
kinds: (1) general jurisdiction cases; ( l 2) congressional cases, i. e., those 
under the acts of March 3, 1883, and March 3, 1887; (3) departmental 

■>, i. e., those referred to the Court of Claims by the executive depart- 
ments under the act of March 8, 1883; (4) cases against the District of 
Columbia, acts of June 10, 1880, and February 13, 1895; (5) French 
spoliation cases, act of January 20, 1885; (G) naval bounty cases, arising 
out of the Spanish War; (7) Indian depredation cases, act of March 3, 
1891. The assistant attorney-general in charge of cases before the Court 
of Claims is charged with the defense of all suits of the first six classes; 
the assistant attorney-general in charge of Indian depredation cases, with the 
defense of suits of the last class. All the important papers connected with 
the various cases are filed in the Court of Claims and constitute part of the 
records of that court. Only two general classes of material, both relatively 
unimportant, i. e., correspondence with United States attorneys in the field 
and their reports, remain in the permanent files of these two offices. All 

B are docketed, thus practically duplicating the dockets of the Court of 
Claims. Statements of the state of litigation are to be found in the annual 
reports. The office of assistant attorney-general in charge of Indian depre- 
dation cases was established by the act of March 3, 1891 (26 Stat. L. 854), 
and the first three reports of that officer give lists of the various Indian 
tribes on account of whose depredations suits were brought. 



Post-Office Department. 147 



POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 

There is no good history of the Post-Office Department, although several 
sketchy accounts may he mentioned: one, by C. W. Ernst, appeared from 
time to time in " L'Union Postale " in 1895-1896 (volumes 20 and 21); 
another, by D. D. T. Leech and W. L. Nicholson, is a small pamphlet, en- 
titled "History of the Post Office Department, 1789-1879" (Washington, 
1879); "Our Postal System", by Francis Huebner ("Records of the 
Columbia Historical Society", vol. 9, pp. 126-174, Washington, 1906), 
covers the ground briefly, while Marshall Cushing's " The Story of Our 
Post-Office" (Boston, 1893) is a description of the workings of the de- 
partment, but contains historical matter throughout. A postal bibliography, 
" Postal Titles ", compiled by C. W. Ernst, was published by the Boston 
Public Library in April, 1900. One other account, though pertaining to 
but one branch of the postal service, may be mentioned : the " History of the 
Railway Mail Service ", prepared by W. E. Parson in the office of the 
superintendent of the Railway Mail Service, in 1885, and printed, together 
with many illustrative documents, as S. Ex. Doc. 40, 48 Cong., 2 sess. 

The Post-Office Department is essentially a business institution, and its 
records are for the most part such as pertain to the conduct of a vast business 
rather than historical in character. They are not without historical interest, 
however, for so closely has the postal service followed the development of 
the country that its records throw much light upon internal development and 
expansion. Frequently also questions of considerable general interest have 
arisen in connection with the service; in the early part of the last century, 
for example, the question as to whether mails should be carried on Sunday 
was a much-discussed one, and the records of the department form the 
principal source of information respecting that phase of social history. The 
same is true in respect to the suppression of the Louisiana Lottery, the use 
of the mails at the time of the Civil War, and other similar matters. The 
archives of historical value of the department are practically complete since 
1789; they appear to have suffered from fire but once, December 15, 1836, 
when the files of the Appointment Division, relating to the establishment of 
post-offices and the appointment of postmasters, and the Postmaster-General's 
Journals and Orders were destroyed (H. Rept. 134, 24 Cong., 2 sess.). 
Many papers regarded as useless have, however, been destroyed by the 
department (see 17 Stat. L. 313; 21 id. 412; 30 id. 444; H. Doc. 700, 56 
Cong., 1 sess.; H. Doc. 325, 56 Cong., 2 sess.; S. Doc. 179, 58 Cong., 1 
and 2 sess.; S. Rep. 3330 and H. Rep. 4085, 58 Cong., 3 sess.). 



148 Post-Office Department. 

The department is organized in five main offices, and the method of keep- 
ing the files varies someuliat ; in some of the offices they are kept in a 
separate division, in others they arc distributed among the various divisions. 
Permission to work in the archives must be obtained from the Postmaster- 
General. 

Mmh important material, especially relating to the growth of the service, 
is to be found printed in the congressional documents, and in volume 27 
of the " American State Papers ". 



OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL. 

The Postmaster-General is charged with the direction and supervision 
of the postal service. He appoints all officers and employees of the de- 
partment, except the four assistant postmasters-general and the purchasing 
agent, appoints all postmasters whose compensation does not exceed $1,000, 
■ind in ikes postal treaties with foreign governments by and with the advice 
and consent of the President. The office of the Postmaster-General is 
organized in several divisions, the records of which are described separately 
below. 

ClIIKK Cl.EItK. 

Iii tlie office of the chief clerk are kept the records of the Postmaster- 
General's office together with one or two distinct series of volumes relating 
to the work of the chief clerk. The library and museum are also under the 
supervision of the chief clerk. The principal series of records are as 
follows: 

1. Letter-books, October 3, 1789, to date (171 vols.). 

These large folio volumes contain copies of the official letters sent by 
the Postmasters-General. The volumes prior to J 833 are indexed by names 
in the books themselves; from 1833 forward a card-index has been prepared. 
From October, 1789, to August, 1823, the letter-books of the Postmaster- 
General present an unbroken line. They contain the correspondence in 
connection with the appointment and instruction of postmasters, the making 
and enforcing of contracts, the interpretation of postal laws, and the estab- 
lishment of the system in the newly-settled parts of the country. These 
books alone present a good account of the operations of the department 
during the early period. From August, 1823, to December, 1827, the 
order is irregular and the volumes appear in several different sets. With- 
out careful comparison it cannot be said that all the correspondence for this 
period has been preserved. Some volumes are devoted almost exclusively 
to matters of thefts from the mails, and probably belonged to an assistant 
in charge of a particular branch of the service. From December, 1827, 



Office of the Postmaster-General. 149 

forward., the series is complete. It contains much information regarding the 
financial difficulties of the department in the early thirties, as well as corre- 
spondence relative to the establishment of the railway mail service, the 
matter of extra allowances to contractors, and the improvement of the service 
in the West under the administration of Postmaster-General Kendall. The 
letter-books immediately prior to the Civil War and at its outbreak contain 
letters relating to the movement in the South against abolitionist documents ; 
inquiries directed by the department to southern postmasters regarding 
their intentions; non-delivery of Fort Sumter mail at Charleston; letters re- 
garding continuance of franking privileges to southern members of Con- 
gress; removals of postmasters on account of disunion sentiments; refusals 
to support the Constitution of the United States; instructions to postmasters 
at offices seized by the Confederacy; service in loyal parts of Virginia; mail 
service to forts, etc. 
2. Letters to Congress, December 23, 1828-April 1, 1888 (4 vols.). 

Beginning about 1820 correspondence with members of Congress assumes 
large proportions; from 1823 to 1833 the letters of Postmasters-General 
John McLean and William T. Barry to them are copied in a separate series 
from their other letters. 

8. Register of letters received from members of Congress, April 6, 1840— 
May 81, 1841. 

This register indicates briefly the subject-matter and final disposition of 
letters. The original letters are not to be found. 
I,.. Telegraphic letter-book " A ", April 16, 1866-J anuary 17, 1874. 

This book deals with investigations of telegraph lines with a view to 
government operation, to relations between telegraph companies and the 
Post-Office Department, to investigations of European telegraph systems, 
etc. 

5. Postal telegraph letter-booh, July 29, 1872-December 10, 1872. 

Press copies of letters relating to prospective government ownership of 
telegraph lines. 

6. Telegraphic despatches sent, February 17, 1852-July 29, 1873 {2 vols.). 
Interesting despatches appear during the war period, showing effects of 

invasion, etc., on mail service. Outgoing telegrams are now copied in letter- 
books. 

7. Telegraphic despatches received, January 28, 1868-March 28, 1863 (X 

vol.). 
Some pages are lacking. Telegrams received are now treated as letters, 
and referred to the proper divisions for consideration. 



150 Post-Office Department. 

8. Letter-books of private secretary to Postmaster-General, 1867-1900 (1£ 

vols.). 
These contain the private letters of the Postmaster-General. Such letters 
are usually taken away hy the retiring Postmaster-General, but some have 
been left in the files. Official matters are treated in many of the letters. 

9. Letters received, 1886 t<> date {4 file-drawers). 

Although the letter-books of letters sent have been carefully preserved 
since 1780, but little attention has been paid to letters received. Loose 
papers baye been regarded as of small account when destructions have taken 
place, and retiring Postmasters-General have usually considered much of 
their correspondence personal and have taken it away with them. Careful 
inquiry has failed to reveal letters received antedating 1885. Since then 
the Letters considered of most importance have been preserved in file-cases 
with a card-index of subjects and names. Only letters concerning general 
postal affairs are kept in the files of the Postmaster-General, the great bulk 
of mail received bring referred at once to the official in whose jurisdiction it 
ties. The letters kept in 22 years number several thousand. 

10. Hugh Finlay's journal, 1773-1774. 

" Journal kept by Hugh Finlay, Surveyor of the Post Roads on the 
Continent of North America, during his Survey of the Post Office between 
Falmouth, in ( asco Bay, in the Province of Massachusetts, and Savannah 
in Georgia; begun the 13 Septr. 1773, and ended 20th June, 1774". The 
manuscript was printed in 1807 under the editorship of Mr. Frank H.~ 
Norton. 

11. Journals and Orders of the Postmaster-General, July 7, 1835, to date 

(365 vols.). 
These volumes contain the orders of the Postmaster-General pertaining 
to all branches of the postal service. Excepting a few scattering volumes 
of the contract office, the orders prior to July 1, 1835, were destroyed in the 
fire of 1 83G. Many of the divisions preserve duplicates of parts of the 
series. At present two series are maintained, but between 1807 and 1905 
there were numerous series, commencing and ending at various dates. 

(1) Journal, July 7, 1835-June, 18G7 (63 vols.) containing all the 
orders to July 1, 1867. 

(2) Mail transportation (vols. 64-172), July 1, 1867-February 18, 1905. 
Contains foreign mail orders after 1891. 

(3) Post-offices and letter-carriers (vols. G3A-133A) July 1, 1867- 
February 18, 1905, containing orders establishing and discontinuing post- 
offices, appointing fourth-class postmasters, and appointing carriers at free- 
delivery offices. 

(4) Railway mail service, department clerks and employees, Miscellaneous 



Office of the Postmaster-General. 151 

Series (vols. 80B-91B) January 1, 1879-March 9, 1893. Since 1884- 
"Miscellaneous Orders" have constituted a separate series; since 1891 
railway mail service orders have been bound in the " Mail Transportation " 
series. 

(5) Department clerks and employees, Salary and Allowance Division 
(vols. 81B-99B), March 9, 1893-February 18, 1905; a continuation of the 
above series, including salary and allowance orders. Since April 9, 1904, 
orders appointing or otherwise pertaining to rural carriers have been in- 
cluded in this series. 

(6) Fines, deductions, and remissions (unnumbered series, 53 vols.), June 
2, 1 849-February 18, 1905, containing orders from inspection division, 
second assistant's office. 

(7) Miscellaneous mail transportation (vols. 1-9), August 2, 1882-July 
22, 1889; series discontinued at latter date and included in "Mail Trans- 
portation " series, noted above. 

(8) Fraud orders (vols. 1-7), March 16, 1895-February 18, 1905, con- 
sisting of scrap-books with original fraud orders. 

(9) Rural delivery service (2 vols.), July 1, 1 904— February 18, 1905; 
earlier rural delivery orders are in volume 97B of " Department Clerks " 
series, noted above. 

(10) Miscellaneous orders, July 1, 1884, to date, containing orders 
awarding all contracts (except those in " Mail Transportation " series), 
fraud orders to 1895, foreign mail orders to 1891, orders establishing free 
delivery service, establishing post-office stations, establishing rural delivery 
offices since organization of service in 1896 (for rural carriers see "Rural 
Delivery Service " series, above), modifying postal laws and regulations, 
appointing committees, etc. The original typewritten orders are bound in 
volumes of 1,000 pages each, and are indexed on cards. 

(11) Orders, February 20, 1905, to date (vols. 01-continued). This 
series includes the orders formerly bound in the first nine series above, so 
that at present only two series are kept. Orders are separated according 
to each division for one month and bound in one volume under heads as 
follows: Salaries and Allowances; Mail Transportation; Fines, Deductions, 
and Remissions; Post-Offices and Postmasters; City Delivery; Rural De- 
livery; Purchasing Agent (Allowances); False Returns; Allowances (Divi- 
sion of Supplies). 

12. Memorandum-booh of chief clerk, 1837-1869 (1 vol.). 

Entries as early as July 17, 1835. Material consists of orders of the 
department, copies of letters, postal statutes, etc. There are items relating 
to hours of work, salaries, and estimates of expenditures in the department; 
to early relations with foreign countries, as for example an index of corre- 
spondence relating to Canadian mails, 1792—1835, an account of dead letters 



1 52 Post-Office Department. 

re turn e d to England and Germany in 1849 and othei years, notes on mail 
steamers to Bremen, IStT. :i letter of Rowland Hill, February 18, 18fil, with 
Statistics of British mail. 1889 1850, nid accounts With other countries. 

18. Letter-hooks of the chief clerk. May IS, 1829-February 21f, 1881 (6 

soli ■' to date (90 sofa.). 

One volume of litters to Congress contains letters of D. B. Brown, chief 
clerkj from March 19, 1882, bo April 1, 1888. The six early volumes relate 

mostly bo complaints Within the service and bO mail routes. 

I IIIRARY. 

Tin- Library of the Post Office Department is under the supervision of the 
chief clerk. It is for reference only, and is supplied with government docu- 
ments, federal and state laws, postal reports of foreign countries, and 
literature concerning the Post-Office Department. The files of Postal Laws 
and Regulations, lists of Post Offices in the United States, Postal Guides, 
Reports, etc.. while as yet not complete in some instances, are being com- 
pleted and are accessible to students of postal a Hairs. 

The library possesses a Dumber of manuscript volumes, as follows: 
Ann als of the Post-Office Department, compiled by E. F. Brown (l vol.). 

A manuscript volume of the history of postal affairs in America from 
i«'.7T bo 177"), with collected materials for later history. Copies of 
Postmaster-General's Orders as early as 1823 are found here. 
Post Routes as Established by Law prior to 1854 (2 vols.). 

Routes arc indexed under names of places with details of routes and 
changes. 

Minutes of Conventions of Superintendents of Railway Mail Service, Wash- 
ington, 1877, 1879 (2 vols.). 

Museum. 

The museum is under the supervision of the chief clerk. It is located on 
the first floor of the Post-Office Building. The exhibit of stamps, dead- 
letter curios, pictures, etc., is open to the public, but the old records can be 
consulted only by written permission from the Postmaster-General. The 
policy of the department is to send the older miscellaneous books to the 
museum for preservation from the ocasional destructions authorized by the 
Congressional Committees on the Disposition of Useless Papers in the 
Executive Departments. The records of the Post-Office under the Con- 
tinental Congress are here, so far as they have survived. 
Continental Congress Post-Office Records. 
1. Ledger of post-office accounts, August 7, 1775— January 5, 1780. 

Index under vowels to names of post-offices in front of book. Dates 



Office of the Postmaster-General. 153 

begin under Franklin's regime, which ended November 7, 1776. The 
accounts are under the postmaster-generalship of Richard Bache, Franklin's 
son-in-law, which lasted till January 28, 1782. Most accounts begin January 
5, 1776, which seems to be the date of beginning the book. Accounts at 
Montreal, October 19, 1776, at Head Quarters, 1777-1778. A lithographed 
facsimile was issued (Washington, 1865), in which the book was declared 
to be a " Franklin Ledger " and in his handwriting. The writing is by 
Richard Bache and Peter Boynton. See the "Critic", n. s., III. 109-110, 
and Washington "Evening Star", March 14, 1885. 

2. Record-book of all valuable letters received in the Dead Letter Office, 
1777-1788 (U pp.). 

Contains 365 entries, describing contents, and giving date, place written 
from, name of writer and addressee, and amount of postage. 
S. Journal, Old Series, No. 1, February 2, 1782-September 26, 1791 {288 
pp.). 

Accounts of General Post-Office with local offices under terms of Ebenezer 
Hazard and Samuel Osgood. Vowel index in front under names of places, 
with a few names of persons. 

4. Ledger, April 5, 1782-March 10, 1790 (151 pp.). 

Indexes to names and places in front of volume. Account of " Head 
Quarters " among others. 

Miscellaneous Post-Office Department Records. 

1. Cash Book No. 1, October 19, 1789-June 29, 1796. 

2. Letter-book, May 10, 1791-October 16, 179 Jf. (64 pp.). 

Copies and translations of correspondence of Timothy Pickering with 
postal officials of Hamburg. 

5. Memorandum-book of drafts and payments, September 23, 1792— October 

22, 1795. 

A few miscellaneous accounts and memoranda at back. 
4- Letter-books of Charles Burrall, Assistant Postmaster-General, October 
27, 1793-March 29, 1798 (2 vols.). 

Some letters of Timothy Pickering are included. At the beginning of the 
first volume is a printed order of the Postmaster-General, June 18, 1792, 
regarding compensation of postmasters. Miscellaneous letters on almost 
every subject of postal affairs, mostly on accounts, but including appoint- 
ments, counterfeit money, delay in mails, removal of postmasters, establish- 
ment of post-offices, reasons for not appointing printers of newspapers as 
postmasters (letter of January 24, 1794), reprimanding a postmaster for 
anti-French feeling (February 21, 1794), purchase of boats for Ohio River 
mails, purchase of lottery tickets for postmasters (June 12, 1794), franking 
privileges, letters of Pickering on arrangements for mails to Kentucky and 



154 Post-Office Department. 

Ohio (January 10 and 10, 1705), to Isaac Craig and Rufus Putnam, asking 
Putnam to supervise western mails, etc. The second volume contains letters 
to contractors, arrangement of schedules, letters to men in West, as Arthur 
Campbell, Isaac Shelby, etc., regarding contracts, etc. The next volume of 
letters. March '-''', 1788-March 20, 1800, is with letter-books of the Post- 
m-istcr-Gcncral. 

5. Suit boot, May SO, 1798-May 28, 1818. 

Memoranda of suits directed against postmasters and contractors, with 
statement of debts for collection. Index to names. 

' l'att-Office balances, July 1, 1823. 

Drawn from ledgers. Shows balances from or to postmasters, contractors, 
and others. 

7. iS. /'. />. Morse, superintendent of telegraphs of the United States, to 

luiron von 1/ umboldi , Washington, May 8, 181^6. 
An account of the progress of telegraphy in the United States (copy). 

Assistant Attobney-Genehai. foe the Post-Office Department. 

The Assistant Attorney-General for the Post-Office Department is the 
chief law officer of that department. He is charged with the duty of 
giving opinions upon questions of law arising in the course of business in 
the postal si -nice; and with various duties relating to claims of postmasters 
for losses, compromise of liabilities to the United States, the remission of 
fines, penalties, and forfeitures, correspondence with the Department of 
Justice relating to prosecutions and suits, applications for pardon for crimes 
committed against the postal laws, appeals to the Postmaster-General from 
the heads of the offices of the department depending upon questions of 
law. lotteries and the misuse of the mails, and contracts of the depart- 
ment. The files of this office from its organization in 1873 have been 
preserved practically intact; a few papers before 1890 were destroyed as 
being of no value. 

1. Jackets of cases, 1873 to dale. 

Each case submitted to the office is given a number and jacketed, one 
jacket containing all the papers concerning the case. A card-index to 
subjects, names of persons, places, etc., makes the records readily accessible. 
Although the jackets compose the bulk of the records, several series of 
volumes are also kept. 

2. Letter-boohs, 1890 to date {126 vols.). 

8. Letters received and sent, 1890 to date {files). 
Card-index to these. 

If. Opinions, February 12, 1901f to date {1 vol.). 






Office of the Postmaster-General. 155 

5. Opinions of Attorney-General, 1880 to date. 
Loose files, two volumes already published. 

6. Jackets of claims for losses, 1882 to date (700 file boxes and 6 vols.). 
Arranged by fiscal years, and in each year under names of post-offices, 

each jacket containing a complete case. Indexed in books 1882 to 1899; 
since 1899 in a card-index. 

7. Letter-boohs of claims, 1882-1902 (82 vols.). 

Since 1902 copies have been cut apart and filed in case jackets. 

8. Lease record, November 23, 190£ to date (1 vol.). 

Original leases are examined and returned to Division of Salaries and 
Allowances, but record is kept here. Other sets of cases have similar 
memorandum books. 

9. Fraud record, November IS, 1879 to date (6 vols.). 

These are cases where a fraud order was issued; they are accessible to 
the public. 

10. Call docket of fraud cases, January 1, 1902 to date (If. vols.). 

This series shows the complete record of action in all cases of alleged 
fraud; they are not open to the public, as in many cases fraud is not proved 
and no fraud order is issued. 

Purchasing Agent. 

The purchasing agent supervises the purchase of all supplies both for the 
Post-Office Department proper and for all branches of the postal service, 
reviews all requisitions and authorizations for supplies, and if proper honors 
the same, passes upon the sufficiency and propriety of all specifications for 
proposals, prepares and issues the advertisements and forms for proposals 
necessary to the making of contracts, and reviews the reports of the com- 
mittees on awards and recommends to the Postmaster-General such action 
as in his judgment should be taken thereon. This office was established 
in 1904, and its records are complete. 

1. Letter-boohs, July, 190 ^ to date (60 vols.). 

These are in several series, as general correspondence, orders, contracts, 
etc. 

2. Abstract of bids, 1904. to date (3 vols.). 

This series gives the names of all bidders, with amounts of bids, etc. It 
is open for inspection to the public. 

3. Contracts, 1904-, to date (files.). 

Filed under name of contractor in manila folders, with a card-index to 
names of contractors. 



156 Post-Office Department. 

4.. Ad ver t u e me nU, July 1 , 1904 to date (1 vol.). 

Original advertisements, proposals, specifications, etc., bound in books. 

5. Order record, 1904 to date. 
Loose-leaf system. 

6. Ledger, 1904 '» date. 
Loose-leaf system. 

7. Allowance* to pottmaaten, 1904 to date (2 vols.). 

Local supplies for first-class and second-class postmasters. 

8. Appropriation record, 1904 '" ( ^" ,e (^ vols.). 
Accounts under separate appropriations. 

9. Item record. V-'o', to date (2 vols.). 
Charges under items purchased. 

10. Allowance estimates, 1906 to date (1 vol.). 

11. Voucher record, 1904 '" date (I vol.). 

Chief Inspectoh. 

This division was established July 1, 1878, as the Division of Post-Office 
Inspectors and Mail Depredations, but special agents were employed long 
before 1 1 1 i ^ date, and regular files exist from 1807. The duties of the 
division comprise the government and assignment to duty of all the post- 
office inspectors employed in the service, and the supervision of the business 
of that force, the preparation and issue of all cases for investigation, all 
matters relating to depredations upon the mails, foreign and domestic, and 
losses therefrom. This division also keeps the records and prepares sta- 
tistics of the inspector's force; examines accounts of inspectors and keeps 
the department accounts of expenditures in this service; and has charge of 
money and property collected or received by inspectors, and the restoration 
thereof to the proper parties or owners. 

The records of this office consist mainly of reports of inspectors and are 
considered confidential. Papers of cases are not kept permanently, with 
the exception of arrest papers, which have been kept since 1867 for purposes 
of identification ; permanent records are supposed to be kept in the fifteen 
division headquarters, but book records are kept in the main office at Wash- 
ington. 
1. Letter-books, 1870 to date (1,000 vols.). 

These give a record in each case, and through indexes are readily accessible. 

Appointment Clehk. 

The appointment clerk is charged with keeping a roster of all officers, 
clerks, and employees of the department, and all papers, applications, recom- 



Office of First Assistant Postmaster-General. 157 

mendations, and files relating thereto; the preparation of all orders for ap- 
pointments, promotions, removals, or acceptance of resignations, and of all 
communications from the Postmaster-General to the officers of the department 
and to the Civil Service Commission relating thereto ; and the compilation of 
the annual " Register of Employees ", historical and current. The records 
of the office are as follows: 

1. Letter-books, January 13, 1885— February 15, 1906. 

This series is now not kept separately from that of chief clerk; copies in 
j ackets. 

2. Register of employees, 1858-1906 (10 vols.). 

Book records now abandoned in favor of service-record cards, alphabet- 
ically arranged. 

3. Record jackets, 1857 to date (not complete). 

Arranged under names of individuals; each jacket contains correspond- 
ence, certificates, oaths of office, orders, etc., for each employee. All avail- 
able papers were secured for these records, but they are not complete for 
the earlier years, many papers remaining in the possession of the auditor. 

Disbursing Clerk. 

The disbursing clerk is charged with the preparation of the pay-rolls and 
the payment of salaries to all officers, clerks, and employees of the depart- 
ment; the making of all expenditures for rent of departmental buildings, 
contingent expenses, the topographer's office, publication of the " Official 
Guide", and for postage on the department's foreign correspondence; the 
sale of waste paper and unserviceable property; and the keeping of accounts 
of expenditures. 

1. Letter-books, 1862 to date (53 vols.). 

The earliest books of this series are chief clerk's letter-books. 

2. Vouchers, 1861 to date (110 file cases). 

3. Contingent bills, 1836 to date (36 vols.). 
If.. Salary accounts, 1836 to date (23 vols.). 

A complete register of employees and salaries paid. 

5. Miscellaneous letters received, 1865 to date (22 file cases). 

6. Contracts, 1866-1905 (9 file cases). 

OFFICE OF THE FIRST ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL. 

To the First Assistant Postmaster-General are assigned the establish- 
ment of post-offices, their discontinuance and change of name and site, the 
appointment of postmasters and their bonding and commissioning, the gen- 



168 Post-Officc Department. 

era! management of post-offices and the instruction of postmasters, the ad- 
justment of Balariea of postmasters .it presidential offices, the authorization 

of allowances for rent, clerk hire, and other expenditures connected with 
post-offices, city and special delivery sen ici !8, and the correspondence of 

the department with postmasters and the public, oot assigned to other offices. 
This office was Formerly called the Appointment Office, and many of the 

older hooks arc so labelled. Many records were hiirned in 183(5, hut some 

interesting "ins have survived. Among the archives arc: 

/. Letter-book*, il>. 1-1 800, 1828 tS 

The two earliest letter-books, "A" and " IJ ", it*.>3-1798, are in the 
museum; the third volume, " ( ', March •-."■>. 1798— March 26, 1800, is with 
the letter-hooks of the Postmaster-GcneraL 
2. Letters received, t899 to date. 

Previous letters vrere destroyed as valueless. 

Division op Postmastehs' Appointments. 

The Division of Postmasters' Appointments is charged with the prepara- 
tion and custody of all papers and correspondence relating to the appoint- 
ment of postmasters, to complaints against postmasters and post-office man- 
agement, to the granting of leaves of absence to postmasters, and to the 
establishment, discontinuance, and change of name and site of post-offices. 

The archives of this division are not complete, some of its records having 
been burned in the fire of 183(5, and many more destroyed as useless papers. 
Among those that have been spared thus far may be noted: 

1. Record book of appointments, February 1G, 1790 to dale (105 vols.). 
The first four volumes of this series were burned in IH.'it;, and the data 

for the period 1700-1820 had to be secured from the postmasters' accounts 
in the auditor's office. One volume contains this information, but gives 
only names of office and of postmaster, with the dates of first quarterly ac- 
counts. Volume 5, 1820-1825, begins the series of original records, which 
give names of bondsmen, exact date of appointment, amount of bond, etc., 
for each postmaster. 

2. Letter-books, appointments, 1886-1884. (.120 vols.). 
Later material filed in jackets. 

3. Journal, January 4, 1815-1816, 1819-1886 (9 vols.). 

These volumes precede the regular journal commenced in 1835, but con- 
tain similar information as to appointments, establishment of offices, etc., 
entered chronologically. Volumes 1 to 5 and volume 7 are missing, and may 
have been burned in the fire of 1836. 
If.. Bond-books, 1857 to date (lf.1 vols.). 

Register under names of persons, showing bondsmen and amount of bond. 



Office of First Assistant Postmaster-General. 159 

5. Bonds of postmasters. 

These are kept here during the term of the postmaster bonded, then sent 
to the auditor's office, collecting division. 

6. Registers of postmasters, indexes of offices, etc., 1826—1857 (33 vols.). 
Miscellaneous volumes, not in regular series. 

7. Appointment cases of fourth-class offices (jackets). 

Filed alphabetically under names of offices. Not kept permanently. 

8. Appointment cases of presidential offices (jackets). 
Not a permanent file. 

9. Daily record of appointments, establishments and discontinuances, and 

changes of name and site, 1889 to date. 
This is the Journal, and forms a basis for daily change-sheets. A similar 
set of volumes, arranged alphabetically under states, are known as section 
books. 

Division of Salaries and Allowances. 

The Division of Salaries and Allowances is charged with the making of 
computations for the annual adjustment of the salaries of postmasters at 
first, second, and third class post-offices, the consideration of all matters 
pertaining to the clerical force of first and second class offices, the allowances 
for clerk hire, etc., at most offices, the consideration of questions affecting 
the consolidation of post-offices, the estabtishment of stations, and the loca- 
tion and leasing of offices. 

1. Letter-books, October 6, 1882 to date. 

Many early books have been destroyed; the earliest now existing relate to 
leases. 

2. Jacket cases. 

These contain letters sent and received, and are destroyed periodically. 
8. Card record, 1888 to date. 

These cards contain the information found in the jacket cases, and form 
a permanent record. The information concerning clerks is imperfect before 
1896, but since then a complete card-record has been kept. 
If.. Contract stations, 1906 to date (1 vol.). 

Record of substations under contract with the department to conduct 
branch offices. 

Division op City- Delivery. 

The Division of City Delivery was established July 1, 1874, but free 
city delivery was inaugurated as early as 1863. The division is charged 
with the general direction of and regulations for the city and special- 
delivery services, and has duties connected with the appointment of letter- 



160 Post-Office Department. 

carriers, the establishment of new service and the extension of existing 

Bl rvice. 

1. Letter-boohs, 190-2-1906 (several hundred rols.). 

This series was abandoned in January, 1906; press copies are now filed in 
jackets of cases. 

.'. Letten received, 18J& 1868 (file cases). 

Arranged under names of offices; later letters received filed in jackets of 

3. Jackets of offices, 1863 to date. 

These arc in two series: Allowances and Personnel. Bach jacket has 
all the papers for one office, and contains in and out correspondence with 
postmasters. There is a finding list of names of offices with reference to 
jacket numbers. 

.;. Carriers' record. IS'l-l to date. 

A permanent file with complete record of each carrier; 1868-1900 in 
books, H)00 to date in card Index 
■'>. Allowance!, 1868 to date. 

Book record of Dumber of carriers allowed to each office. 

6. Intpectort' report* In date (file eases). 

Piled under names of offices. Before 1807 similar reports were made 
by assistant superintendents and by special agents; many of these are 
among letters received or in the older jackets. 

7. Miscellaneous files, 1863-1905. 

These consist of papers received relating to such matters as establishment 
of the service, appointments of carriers, charges against carriers, carriers' 
bonds and oaths, complaints, carriers' overtime claims, etc., etc. 

8. Letter-books, 188^.-1906. 

Relate to m itters noted in preceding series. 

OFFICE OF THE SECOND ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL. 

The work of this office includes the authorization and the management 
of the transportation of the domestic and foreign mails, and the making and 
execution of all contracts or agreements therefor, the direction of the 
weighing of the mails and the adjustments of compensation, the transporta- 
tion of supplies, mail lettings, and distribution, and the supervision of the 
Railway Mail Service, Foreign Mail Service, and all other classes of trans- 
portation service. 

The office of Second Assistant Postmaster-General was created April 30, 
1810, and for some years was known as the Contract Office. Many old 



Office of Second Assistant Postmaster-General. 161 

records are so labelled, and some have erroneously been placed under the 
Division of Contracts. The files are all together except those of the 
Division of Railway Mail Service and of the Division of Foreign Mails, 
which preserve their respective files. The others are as a whole the most 
accessible in the Post-OfEce Department; a typewritten inventory may be 
consulted, and each file case is labelled with a list of its contents. Nothing 
of importance seems to be missing in this office except those records which 
were burned in the fire of 1836. 

1. Letter-boohs of the Second Assistant, November 2, 1825^-June 11, 1889; 

press copies, November 1, 1865, to date. 
The earliest of these books are in the files of the Division of Contracts. 

2. Chief clerk's letter-books, January SO, 1890 to date (16 vols.). 
8. Telegrams sent, October 11/., 1890 to date {11/. vols.). 

]p> Special agents' orders, May 21, 1889 to date {8 vols.). 

5. Special agents' reports, 1830-1876. 
Superseded by inspector's reports. 

6. Records of the Post-Office Guard, 1861-1863. 

These records relate to the organization of Post-Office clerks during the 
Civil War for the defense of Washington. 

7. Overland mail, 181/9—1865; Through mail and overland routes, 1866 to 

date. 
Among places touched are St. Louis, Memphis, San Francisco, Astoria, 
St. Joseph, Placerville, Salt Lake City. For a history of overland mail 
service see the Report of Postmaster-General Aaron V. Brown for 1858. 

8. Star route trials, 1878-1883. 
Most of this material is printed. 

9. Ante-bellum claims. 

Evidence of Service on Routes in Southern States, first and second quar- 
ters, 1861. A special index book gives names of contractors, etc. For 
these claims see S. Doc. 92, 57 Cong., 2 sess. 

Division - of Railway Mail Service. 

The Division of Railway Mail Service has charge of the railway mail ser- 
vice and the railway post-office clerks, prepares for the Second Assistant Post- 
master-General cases for the appointment, removal, promotion, and reduction 
of said clerks; conducts the correspondence, and issues the orders relative 
to moving the mails on railroad trains ; dispatches and distributes mail matter 
in railway post-office cars and post-offices; and conducts the weighing of 
mails when ordered. 

This division was organized on April 7, 1869. Regular railway mail 
12 



162 



Post-Office Department. 



service was commenced in 1804, but mail was carried by railroads as early 
as 1835. Some controversy has arisen as to the actual date of commence- 
ment of the service; see W. E. Parson, "History of the Railway Mail 
Service ", S. Ex. Doc. 40, 48 Cong., 2 sess.; George B. Armstrong, jr., " The 
True Railway Mail Service" (100(5), etc. Some interesting matter that 
may aid in establishing the date is in the Division of City Delivery, under 
the First Assistant. 

M any of the files of tliis division are stored in the Merchants' Transfer 
and Storage Building, and were not readily accessible for the purposes of 
this report, but they arc complete from the establishment of the division, and 
include some earlier records. Among them arc: 

1. Letter-boohs, duly 1, 18G7 to date. 

2. Telegram* tent, February 15, 187G, to date. 
.!. Appointment*, July I, 1867 to dale. 

Copies of letters sent. 
',. Scrap-books, 1SS 1 , to date ("> cols.). 

Employees of this division are requested to send in all items regarding the 
service. These are arranged chronologically in volumes and furnish valuable 
material fox a history of the service. 

5. Minutes of the convention* of radical/ mail superintendents, Washington, 

1878, 1879 (2 vols.). 

6. Special route agents and local agents and clerks, December 28, 1857- 

1883 (8 vols.). 
This service antedates regular railway mail service. 

7. Letters received, I860 to dale. 

The file of letters received dates from 1809, but the present system was 
inaugurated in 1880. Communications are classed under subjects, numbered 
and carded consecutively; subsequent letters on the same subject are added 
to the same file. There are finding lists in books for superintendents and 
other officials under various subjects, so that any letter can be located either 
through its writer or its subject-matter. The letters are jacketed and 
stored, but the index is kept in the division for reference. 

8. Railway postal clerk files, 1881 to date. 

These are preceded by jackets of cases, dating from 1801, and contain- 
ing the records of individual employees. At present the complete records 
of 14,000 clerks are on file; the dead files contain records of clerks no 
longer in the service. The arrangement is alphabetical under names, and a 
card index gives a summary of the record of each clerk ; in these files the 
record of all clerks since the beginning of the service can be found. 

9. Record of railway postal clerks, 1887 to date {loose-leaf system). 

Here a record of work is kept, arranged under the nine divisions into 



Office of Second Assistant Postmaster-General. 163 

which the country is divided ; a card-index under names renders all accessible. 
Application Files, Substitute Files, etc., have been kept in the past, but the 
application of Civil Service rules to the Railway Mail Service has rendered 
these unnecessary, as the Commission furnishes eligible lists. 

Division of Foreign Mails. 

The Division of Foreign Mails has charge of all foreign postal arrange- 
ments (except those relating to the money-order system) including the 
preparation of postal conventions and the regulations for their execution, 
as well as the consideration of questions arising under them; and conducts 
the correspondence relative thereto both with foreign governments and private 
citizens. It also has the supervision of the ocean mail steamship service in 
all its details. 

The division was established July 28, 1868, as a separate division, but 
foreign mails have been a part of the postal service from the beginning 
(see Pickering's letter-book in the museum, also chief clerks' records for 
early relations with foreign countries). The first convention was with 
Bremen, 1847. For a history of the foreign mail service see the Report of 
the Postmaster-General for 1895, pp. 444-456. A large collection of 
printed matter relating to postal service in other countries has been pre- 
served in this division. 

Among the records of this division are : 

1. Treaties, originals, 181/!7 to date. 

2. Letter-books, 1868 to date (180 vols.). 
Indexed in front of books. 

8. Letters received, 1868 to date. 

Kept in jackets chronologically under names of countries. 
b. Record of weights, 1884. to date (8 vols.). 

For similar records see the Foreign Division of the auditor's office. 

Division- of Railway Adjustments. 

The Division of Railway Adjustments prepares cases authorizing the 
transportation of mails by railroads, cable and electric roads, wagons and 
pneumatic tubes in cities, and by mail messengers, the establishment of rail- 
way postal-car service, and changes in existing service; prepares orders and 
instructions for the weighing of mails, receives the returns and computes 
basis of pay therefor, prepares cases for the adjustment of allowances to 
railroads for carrying the mails and for postal cars, and attends to all 
correspondence relating to these matters. 

This division was established June 28, 1880, but many earlier records are 
preserved among its files. 



164 Post-Office Department. 

1. Proposals, 1802-1884. 

2. Journals, 1840-1853. 
Early form of route book. 

8. Letter-boohs, January 2, 1877 to date. 

4. Route register books, 1872-1900. 
Now discontinued. 

5. Mail messenger sen ice, 18(12 to date. 

6. Circular books, February 2, 1880-April 18, 1885. 

7. Screen wagon, electric car, and cable car service, 1881 to date. 
Classified under names of states and territories. 

8. Mail messenger circulars, February 12, 1883 to date (350 vols.). 

Division op Contracts. 

The I)i\ision of Contracts prepares all advertisements inviting proposals 
for star and steamboat service, receives the proposals, prepares orders for 
the award of contracts, attends to the execution of contracts, prepares cases 
and orders for the establishment of new service or changes in existing ser- 
\ ier, attends to all correspondence relating thereto, and prepares statistics 
and reports of mail service as required by law. 

This division was established July 1, 1900, but contains records as early 
as 1808; the office of the second assistant was once known as the Contract 
Office, and many of these early volumes are so labelled; they contain, how- 
ever, the correspondence of the entire office. 

1. Advertisements of propotalt for mail contracts, printed, 1808 to date (107 

vols.). 
This set of advertisements is probably unique. In a single volume are 
found the advertisements for bids for the express service established in 
183G and for the packet service on western waters beginning in 1838. 

2. Miscellaneous printed material. 

Of valuable printed material should be noted sets of United States Postal 
Laws and Regulations, 1817 to date, lists of United States post-offices, 1811 
to date, and of recent bills concerning postal affairs. With these laws and 
regulations are bound lists of distributing offices, tables of post-offices with 
distances from Washington, and lists of appointments to post-offices. 

3. Mail-route advertisements, 1823 to date. 
If.. Journals of the Postmaster-General. 

Mail transportation, July 7, 1835 to date (172 vols.). 

5. Mail contracts, 1815 to date. 

6. Unaccepted bids. 



Office of Second Assistant Postmaster-General. 165 

7. Western contracts, 1830-188 % (1 vol.). 

Give details of routes, places covered, names of agents, with their ad- 
dresses and amount paid to each, changes in routes and pay, etc. 

8. Registers of contracts, 1823 to date. 

9. Star route service, 1846 to date. 

Proposals, orders, etc., classified under names of states and territories. 

10. Star route registers, 1814.-1902. 

11. Circular boohs, November 18, 1871-October 8, 1888; April 1, 1884,, 

to date. 

12. Letter-boohs, November 2, 1825-June 11, 1889; press copies, Novem- 

ber 1, 1865 to date. 

Division of Inspection. 

The Division of Inspection is charged with the examination of the monthly 
and special reports of postmasters as to the performance of service by con- 
tractors, the preparation of certifications of service to the auditor, and of 
correspondence and orders relative to defective performance. As a separate 
division this division dates only from July 10, 1878, but it has in its 
possession records as early as 1825. 

1. Letter-boohs, August 2, 1836 to date. 

2. Failures and fines, 1836-1870. 

3. Registers or inspection record, 1825 to date. 
Indexes, 1870 to date. 

4. Circulars, July 12, 1842-May 28, 1885. 

5. Reports from contract office, July 1, 1887— August SO, 18 '46. 

6. Postmaster-General's orders, deduction, fines, and remissions, June 2, 

1849 to date. 

7. Inspection of star, railroad, and mail messenger service, 1850 to date. 
Classified under names of states and territories. 

8. Inspection of regulation and screen wagon service, cable car, and electric 

service. 
Classified under names of states and territories. 

9. Second Assistant Postmaster-General's orders, affecting mail service, 

March 2, 1886-June SO, 1897. 

10. Miscellaneous boohs, route agents, and railway post-office clerks. 

11. Railway mail service journal, 1870 to date. 

12. Railway mail service correspondence, 1876 to date. 
IS. Star route correspondence, 1838 to date. 

14. Railroad correspondence, 1868 to date. 

15. Mail messenger correspondence, 1874 to date. 



166 Post-Office Department. 

Division or Equipment. 

The Division of Equipment lias charge of the making of contracts for 
furnishing mail bags, mail locks and keys, libel cases, and mail-bag cord 
fasteners, the issuing of such articles for the use of the service, the repair- 
ing of the same, the keeping of records and accounts, and the preparation 
of all correspondence incident to these duties. 

The division wis established July 1, 1900. Among its records are: 

1. Letter-boohs, is.;.! to dale. 

2. Key, lock, and bag files. 

OFFICE OK Till. THI HI) ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL. 

The office of Third Assistant Postmaster-General was established July 
2, 1830, and was known for a long time as the Financial Office. To the 
Third Assistant Pnstmastt r-General are assigned the general supervision 
of the collection and deposit of the revenues of the postal service and of its 
financial operations, the keeping of accounts, the drawing of warrants, the 
supervision and management of the registry system (except certain por- 
tions of the correspondence with foreign offices) and of the money order 
system, and tli< supervision of the manufacture and distribution of postage 
stamps, etc. 

With the exception of certain series noted below, which are preserved in 
the office of the chief clerk of the Third Assistant Postmaster-General, the 
files are kept in the divisions to which they respectively pertain, a card 
index to all important material being maintained in the office of the chief 
clerk. The more important records in this latter office are as follows: 

1. Letter-boohs, January 1, 1850-December 28, 1887 (20 vols.); press 

copies, May 11, 1859, to date (about 1,000 vols.). 

2. Index to letter-boohs, July, 1863, to date (J$ vols.). 
Before 1803 each letter-book contained its own index. 

3. Register of letters received, January 2, 1861f., to date (62 vols.). 

If. Record of registered matter received, March 8, 1883, to date (8 vols.). 

Division of Finance. 

The Division of Finance is charged with the collection of all moneys due 
to the department, the payment of indebtedness chargeable against appropria- 
tions for the postal service, and the keeping of various financial accounts. 

The records of this division have been preserved from July 2, 1883, the 
date of its organization as a separate division. Among them the more im- 
portant are as follows: 



Office of Third Assistant Postmaster-General. 167 

1. Letter-boohs, 1906 to date (If. vols.). 

Preceding books in general files of chief clerk's office. 

2. Inspection jackets, fourth-class postmasters, 1888 to date {file cases.). 
Inspection cases, arranged under pending and closed cases, with card- 
index to names of postmasters. The papers are often used in suits by 
district attorneys. 

8. Record of inspection cases, 1883—1903 (6 vols.). 

Now abandoned. 
Jf. Money cases, 1903 to date (jackets in file cases). 
6. Register of money received, 1883 to date (5 vols.). 

Shows reason for sending and the final disposal of the money. Separate 
sub-series for dead-letter funds.- 

Division of Stamps. 

The Division of Stamps is charged with the consideration of all requisi- 
tions from postmasters for supplies of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, 
and the like, the keeping of accounts of all such supplies furnished to post- 
masters, and the general supervision of their manufacture by contractors. 

This division was organized as a separate division June 27, 1874, but 
part of its files dates from 1847, when stamps were first issued; stamped 
envelopes appeared in 1853, newspaper wrappers in 1861, special request 
envelopes in 1865, postal cards in 1873. The files of the division include: 

1. Ledgers, July 1, 181(7, to date (series not complete) . 

Volume 1, 1847—1853, contains the first stamp accounts. A number of 
succeeding volumes have been destroyed. The loose-leaf system is now 
used. 

2. Letter-books, 1906 to date (3 vols.). 

Preceding letter-books are in the general files of the chief clerk's office. 

3. Correspondence file, 188Jf, to date (file boxes). 

The system of files arranged under names of offices was inaugurated in 
1900, and is gradually absorbing the old files which were chronologically 
arranged; it now includes the jackets back to 1884, and will eventually 
include them from their beginning in 1866. 

Division of Money-Orders. 

The act of May 17, 1864, provided for a money-order system, and the 
Division of Money-Orders was established July 1, 1864. Domestic money- 
orders were first issued November 1, 1864, and international money-orders 
on September 1, 1869, under the convention of October 12, 1867. 

The files of this division are well arranged. Many papers have been 



168 Post-Office Department. 

systematically destroyed, but the important records have of course been 
saved. Among those now here are: 

1. Letter-books, May 1, 1873-Xovcmber 11, 1898 (4 vols.). 
A selected series of important letters. 

2. Letter-books, Domestic, 186^ to dais; Foreign, 1874 '° date (610 vols.). 
■ !. Miscellaneous correspondence, February 22, 185G to date (several hun- 
dred vols.). 

This consists of letters received] miscellaneous selected papers, etc., 
classed under various heads and arranged chronologically under each head. 
4- Postal contentions rrith foreign countries, 1867 to date. 

Originals. 

Division of Registered Mails. 

Tin Division i>f Registered Mails is charged with the management of the 
registry system and all correspondence in relation thereto, except parts of 
the foreign eorn •spomlence, and with the keeping of records and statistics 

of the registry bosinesa at all post-offices. 

The registry system was established July 1, 1855, under the act of 
March 8, 1855; the Division of Registered Mails was organized as a 
separate division July 1, lf>00, and has almost no records prior to that 
date. As local offices do not preserve their records, material for the early 
history of the registry system seems to be largely lacking; although some 
information can be obtained among the records of the auditor's office. The 
files now extant include: 

1. Letter-books, 1906 to dale (350 vols.). 

Preceding hooks are preserved in the general files of the Third Assistant 
Postmaster-General's Office. 

2. Correspondence cases, August, 1902, to date (17,000 cases). 

With card index. Preceding correspondence is in the general files of 
the Third Assistant Postmaster-General's Office. 

3. Registery reports from local offices, 1890 to date (cards). 

Division op Redemption. 

The Division of Redemption is charged with the receipt, examination, and 
destruction of damaged and unsalable stamps and similar supplies. 

This has been a separate division since July 1, 1901, but some of its 
records date from 1847, when stamps were first issued. Among its files are: 
1. Letter-books, December 8, 1906, to date (1 vol.). 

Preceding books are in the general files of the Third Assistant Postmaster- 
General's Office. 



Office of Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General. 169 

2. Letters received, 1905 to date. 

Letters received to 1905 have been destroyed with exception of some few 
dating as early as 1847; these are with a portfolio of old forms. 
8. Stamps and stamped envelopes returned, 1861—1868 (1 vol.). 

In the front of this volume are credits to Confederate postmasters for 
return in g United States stamps. The series of stamps before the war was 
declared obsolete and not usable for postage. 

Division of Classification. 

The Division of Classification is charged with the consideration of all 
questions relating to the classification of mail matter, including the deter- 
mination of the admissibility of publications to the second class. 

The duties of this division were transferred from the First Assistant 
Postmaster-General's office in 1887, but the corresponding records were not 
transferred; if preserved, they are in the latter office, but they were not 
located during the preparation of this report. The Division of Classifica- 
tion was organized on July 1, 1900, as a separate division. Among its files 
are: 

1. Letter-books, press copies, December 8, 1906 to date {llf. vols.). 
Preceding books are in the general files of the Third Assistant Postmaster- 
General's Office. 

2. Record of correspondence, booh indexes, 1887—1896 (9 vols.). 

3. Jackets, 1896 to date. 

Letters received from and copies of letters sent to publishers, specimens 
of publications, reports of special agents, etc. Card-index under names 
of post-offices and of publications. Jackets before 1896 have been destroyed. 
If. Record of publications, 1887—1896 {15 vols.); card-index 1896 to date. 

Earlier publications are included, sometimes with date when it could be 
ascertained. The separate record cards, 1903 to date, cover 115,000 cases. 
5. Precedent file. 

Indexed by subjects. 

OFFICE OF THE FOURTH ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL. 

To the Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General are assigned the general 
supervision of the rural-delivery service; the custody and distribution of 
supplies for the postal service, of the treatment of all " dead " mail matter, 
and the making, printing, and distribution of post-route and rural-delivery 
maps. 

The office was created March 3, 1891, but the divisions which were 
originally under the Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General have all been 



170 Post-Office Department. 

transferred to other offices, their places being taken by divisions transferred 
from those offices, the object being to make the work of each office more 
homogeneous. The result is, that some of the records of this office are older 
than the office itself, as each division retained its own archives. Among 
the files of the office proper of the Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General are: 

1. Letter-books, July 1, 1891, to date (100 vols.). 

2. Letters received, IS',) I to date. 
Card-index. 

Division or Rural Delivery. 

Experimental rural free delivery was commenced about 1890, but the 
system was not fully inaugurated until October 1, 1890, and the separate 
Division of Rural Delivery was organized July 1, 1902. The records, so 
far as extant and Important arc as follows: 

1. Experimented free dclircri/ records, 1890-1884. 

These are stored in the Division of Supplies, and include papers relating 
to the establishment of routes, appointments of carriers, complaints, and dis- 
continuances of service. 

2. Correspondence files, 1896 to date. 

Most of these records, like those above, are stored in the Division of 
Supplies; they contain papers similar to those in the preceding series, with 
tin addition of the records of extensions of service and bonds and oaths of 
carriers. They are filed in jackets arranged by names of offices in alpha- 
betical order. All papers in jackets before 1905 have been destroyed ex- 
cept orders and instructions. 

3. Case files, 1896 to date. 

A card-index to these files gives a brief history of each route. 
If. Letter-books, 1896 to date. 

Division of Supplies. 

This division was established July 2, 1883, but has few records of earlier 
date than 1905. It possesses letter-books, 1895 to date, and various accounts. 

Division of Dead Letters. 

The oldest dead-letter record extant (1777-1788) is in the Post-Office 
Museum. In 1900 a quantity of dead letters, 178G-1789, were destroyed. 
The Dead Letter Office dates from 1825, and the present Division of Dead 
Letters from April 19, 1868. Very few of the records of this division have 
been preserved, even the records of articles, valuables, etc., having been 
destroyed; there are, however, letter-books from 1888 to date. 



Office of Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General. 171 

Division of Topography. 

The date of the earliest topographical work of the department is not 
definitely known, but it was probably undertaken as early as 1830 (see the 
" Life of Captain William H. Swift ", by G. W. Cullum, New York, 1880). 
The separate Division of Topography was organized July 1, 1872, but no 
records have been preserved. The division has not even a series of its own 
maps, but has sent nearly all its old maps to the Map Division of the 
Library of Congress; the latter, however, does not possess a complete set 
of post-route maps, and it is probable that none is in existence. Post-route 
maps are sold by the disbursing clerk of the Post-Office Department. 



172 



Navy Department. 



NAVY DEPARTMENT. 



Naval affairs were administered by the War Department from 1789 until 
1798, in whicli latter year the Navy Department was established (1 Stat. 
L. 553). From IT'.iS until 1815 practically all the work of the department 
was directly supervised by the Secretary's office, the correspondence of 
which for those years relates to all matters connected with the administration 
of the n ivy. In 1815 a board of three "navy commissioners" was estab- 
lished (.! Stat. I.. SOS), which performed the ministerial duties of the office 
of the Secretary relating to the procurement of naval stores and materials, 
the construction, armament, equipment, and employment of vessels of war, 
and the superintendence of navy yards. The records and correspondence 
of this hoard, covering the twenty-sc \< n years of its existence, are for the 
most part filed in the Bureau of Construction and Repair, and supplement 
the records, for the same period, of the Secretary's office. 

In 1842 the board was abolished and its place was taken by five bureaus; 
Navy Yards and Docks; Construction, Equipment, and Repairs; Provisions 
and Clothing; Ordnance and Hydrography; and Medicine and Surgery (5 
Stat. I.. *>7'.»). In 18»'>2 a reorganization of the department took place, and 
since that date there have been eight bureaus: Yards and Docks; Equipment 
(formerly known as the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting); Navigation; 
Ordnance; Construction and Repair; Steam Engineering; Supplies and Ac- 
counts (formerly Provisions and Clothing); and Medicine and Surgery (12 
Stat. L. 510). To these should be added the offices of Judge- Advocate- 
General, established in 1805 (13 Stat. L. 4G8), of Naval Intelligence, 
created in 1882, and of Naval War Records, created in 1884- (23 Stat. L. 
185). 

There is no history of the Navy Department or of any of its bureaus or 
offices, a lack strikingly in contrast with the abundance of historical accounts 
of the War Department. There is a short account of the department in 
Elmes: "The Executive Departments" (Washington, 1870), but the best 
description of the organization and duties of the various bureaus is contained 
in chapter i. of U. S. Navy Regulations. The " Cockrell Report " (S. Rept. 
507, pt. 3, 50 Cong., 1 sess.) contains much detailed information relating 
to the methods of work in the department which, because of the few changes 
since 1887, applies more fully to present conditions than in the cases of the 
other departments. 

The records of the Navy Department are in an excellent state of preser- 
vation; the earliest begin in 1790, but there are comparatively few before 



Navy Department. 173 

1798. The burning of the War Department building in 1800 doubtless 
caused the loss of some of the earliest files but even these losses are in part 
covered by the preservation of copies of the originals. There remains, for 
example, a transcript in one volume of certain records known as the " Naval 
correspondence of the War Department, 1790-1798 ", containing many 
important letters, the originals of which were lost at the time of the fire. 
Since 1804, the records are practically complete; most of those of earlier 
date than 1842 are in the Secretary's office, in the Bureau of Navigation, 
and in the Bureau of Construction and Repair; those since then are to be 
found in the other bureaus as well. To the original files of the depart- 
ment have been added from time to time by purchase, gift, or loan, the 
papers of distinguished naval officers. The following circular was pub- 
lished in 1904, for the purpose of securing such material: 

Navt Department, 
Library and Naval War Records, 
Washington, D. C, December 1, 190/f. 

A large collection of United States naval officers' papers has been made by this 
office. 

It is greatly desired to increase this collection by the addition of matter relating 
to our Navy since its beginning— naval logs, journals, reports, letters, charts, sketches, 
pamphlets; pictures of officers, ships, naval scenes, etc., the permanent preservation 
of which by this Department should strongly appeal to family pride and love of the 
Navy. A large mass of this material is in the hands of naval officers, their families 
and descendants, and others, and it is earnestly requested that it be sent to this office 
for safety and preservation. 

Such a collection of historical naval papers will be of great value. The Navy and 
the nation will benefit from the resulting increased knowledge of the high character 
and strong efforts of our naval people. 

Material of this kind, placed in the Navy Department, will be preserved, and will 
be secure for historical purposes. 

Your assistance in this matter is earnestly and respectfully requested. It will be 
highly appreciated. 

Very respectfully, 

Charles W. Stewart, 
Superintendent Library and Naval War Records. 

The response has been encouraging and a number of collections, especially 
notable among which is that of the papers of Commodore John Rodgers, have 
been deposited in the Naval War Records Office. 

As is evident from the fuller descriptions below the most important 
archives are in the Secretary's office which contains the Secretary's corre- 
spondence to 1884. They are conveniently arranged, in a number of series, 
and are readily accessible. A list, not descriptive, was printed in 1882: 
"Alphabetical Index to Records of the Secretary's office, ... to 1880". 



174 Navy Department. 

The general character of these files is descrihed in more detail below; one 
respect in which they differ from those of other departments is in the vast 
amount of information they contain relating to affairs abroad; thus in a 
certain sense they supplement the diplomatic and consular archives of the 
State Department. They contain also full information relating to the ad- 
ministration of tin' navy, its discipline, the movements of its vessels and 
squadrons, etc. The corresponding archives since 1881 have not been bound 
but arc riled in the office of the chief clerk of the department. A complete 
inventory of all the archives of tlie department will be found in Robert W. 
Neeser'fi forthcoming " Statistical and Chronological History of the United 
States Navy, 1770-1807 ". 

The records of the various bureaus are of less importance. With the 
( KCeption of the archives of the bureaus of Navigation and of Construction 
and Repair, which are described below, the files of the bureaus are technical 
and of little or no historical value. They relate, as the names of the 
bureaus suggest, to the equipment of vessels, the management of yards and 
docks, the construction and testing of ordnance, the supply of the navy with 
provisions, clothing, small stores, etc. (supplies and accounts), the construc- 
tion and installation of engines (steam engineering), and the health of the 
officers and enlisted men (medicine and surgery). The principal descrip- 
tion heretofore printed of the naval archives is in the remarks by J. R. Soley, 
in Winsor's "America" (VII. 414) ; an article by C. H. Lincoln in the 
" Literary Collector " for January, 1004, on " Naval Manuscripts in National 
Archives ", deals with the records of the Navy Department, but is more 
particularly concerned with the Revolutionary naval records preserved in 
the Library of Congress. 

Some of the material in the archives of the department is in print; all 
papers of importance relating to the Civil War are to be found in the 
" Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies ", now in process 
of publication. The records of the War of 1812 and of the Mexican War 
will probably be published in the near future; it is estimated that such a 
publication would fill about four volumes for each of the two wars. Much 
naval correspondence has already been printed in the congressional docu- 
ments; particularly is this true, for example, of that relating to the opera- 
tions of the Pacific squadrons during the Mexican War. In the annual 
reports of the Secretary and the chiefs of the bureaus are full accounts of 
the operations of the department from year to year, including such matters 
as construction and equipment of ships, movements of fleets and squadrons, 
tests of ordnance, etc. A list of the publications of the department to 1881 
is printed as S. Ex. Doc. 37, 47 Cong., 1 sess., but a more complete list is 
in C. T. Harbeck's " Bibliography of the United States Navy " (Boston, 
1906), while a still more complete bibliography will be found in R. W. 



Office of the Secretary. 175 

Neeser's forthcoming " Statistical and Chronological History ", already 
noted. 

For access to the archives of the department permission must be obtained 
from the Secretary; a very liberal policy toward investigation is followed, 
and the necessary permission is freely accorded to accredited persons for 
purposes of historical research. 

Mention should be made of the library of the Navy Department which is 
attached to the Naval War Records Office. It is especially strong in 
literature relating to the naval history of the United States : see " Alphabet- 
ical Catalogue of the Navy Department Library " (Washington, 1891) with 
its "Supplement, 1892—1895" (Washington, 1896) and the periodical 
" Accessions to the Navy Department Library ". 

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY AND NAVAL WAR RECORDS OFFICE. 

The Secretary's office is the repository for the correspondence of the 
Secretary of the Navy, from the organization of the department in 1798 
to 1884. The Secretary's correspondence since 1884 is kept unbound in 
file cases in the chief clerk's office and in the various bureaus of the de- 
partment. In the Naval War Records Office are preserved the loaned, 
donated, or purchased papers, the extent and value of which are consider- 
able. The records of the Secretary's office to 1884 and the papers in the 
Naval War Records Office are practically administered by the latter office 
and hence are described together. For a brief account of the naval archives, 
see the remarks by J. R. Soley in Winsor's "America" (VII. 414). The 
files are remarkably complete, the only known loss being that suggested by 
Soley in the passage referred to, when the burning of the War Office in 
November, 1800, destroyed papers relating to the navy. In 1814 the Secre- 
tary's files escaped unscathed (" American State Papers, Miscellaneous ", 
II. 248) ; and while there is a tradition of a fire in the Navy Department in 
1837 (Roosevelt, " Naval War of 1812 ", preface), the absence of contem- 
porary accounts of such a fire, together with the fact that the various series 
of volumes commencing at an earlier date are complete would seem to indi- 
cate that the Secretary's office suffered little if any loss. 

The records of the Secretary's office are preserved in bound volumes and 
arranged by series, within which, for the most part, a chronological arrange- 
ment is observed. In the following inventory the classification is that 
adopted by the office, with two exceptions: (1) For greater clearness the 
different series have been grouped under descriptive headings. (2) In the 
office the volumes containing the correspondence for the Civil War period, 
1861-1865, have been temporarily segregated from the various series for 
the purpose of publishing the " Official Records of the Union and Con- 



176 



Navy Department. 



federate Navies in the War of the Rebellion "; in this inventory these segre- 
gated volumes instead of being listed separately, arc included in the re- 
spective series to which they belong. 

The indexing of the files of this office is of comparatively little value 
to the student. There is an office index, and in addition there is, in the front 
of nearly every volume, an index to the names of the writers or recipients 
of the letters in tli.it volume, while in some volumes there is a meagre 
subject-index. The only safe method for the investigator to use in search- 
ing (Or material is that of turning the pages. 

As has been Statedj the Naval War Records Office is engaged in publishing 
the " Official Records " of the naval operations during the Civil War. In 
connection with tins work the office has gathered together all the available 
material, which is of four classes: (1) the files of the Secretary's corre- 
spond hit. mentioned above; (2) the files and records of the various bureaus 
of tin- department, covering the years 18<il— 18U5 (these papers are not on 
file in the office, but lists of them have been made and are preserved there); 

(3) war charts, a list of which is printed as " Office Memoranda No. 1 "; 

(4) private papera seeured as loans from officers of the Union and Con- 
federate Navies, or from their families (many of these collections have been 
returned to their owners, but information as to their character and location 
em be supplied by the office). Extended descriptions of these different 
(lasers of papers are unnecessary, as everything of importance in them is 
to be found in the " Official Records ". A list of the log-books belonging 
to the Bureau of Navigation and covering the period of the war is printed 
as " Office Memoranda No. 5 " and shows this class of material to contain 
about 1,G00 books. Lists of vessels are included in the " Official Records " 
as well as in the Navy Registers and are to all intents and purposes lists 
of log-books as well. A list of the officers whose papers were secured by 
the office, together with descriptive notes relating to the more important col- 
lections, supplied by Mr. Charles W. Stewart, the superintendent of the 
Naval War Records Office, is given below. 



I. CoRBESPOXDEXCE WITH NAVAL OFFICERS. 

1. Officers' letters, 1802-188U {1^.28 vols.). 

Letters, mostly to the Secretary of the Navy, from officers of all grades, 
but chiefly of the lower ones, as lieutenants, surgeons, midshipmen, chaplains, 
commanders, gunners, carpenters, pursers, engineers, professors at the 
Naval Academy, mates, etc. In the first volume of this series is a most 
interesting group of letters throwing light on American affairs in the Medi- 
terranean in the years 1802-1804. Of this group may be mentioned a list 
of the marine force of Algiers in July, 1801, correspondence between 
Lieutenant John Shaw and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Two 



Naval War Records Office. 177 

Sicilies in 1802 regarding the protection to be given American commerce, 
and letters from Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, jr., Isaac Hull, James 
Lawrence, and Charles and Robert Stewart as to the equipment and employ- 
ment of the small vessels used so successfully by the United States against 
the Barbary pirates. Other letters show how naval officers regarded Jeffer- 
son's gunboats, as well as the difficulty of securing crews for that class of 
vessels. There are also many letters relating to personal matters, as ad- 
vances of pay, furloughs, reports to duty, transfers, appointments, and re- 
quests of all sorts. In later years material of historical interest is com- 
paratively rare, though occasionally some is found, as some letters of April, 
1848, relating to the probable annexation of Yucatan; requests for active 
service or for transfer to the Gulf Squadron in 1846, etc. Three supple- 
mentary volumes, 1839—1854, appear to be filled chiefly with letters relating 
to disputes, complaints, accusations, etc., although such material is to be 
found quite generally throughout the collection. 

2. Masters' letters, 1804-1837 (50 vols.). 

These letters from masters-commandant relate for the most part to de- 
tails of routine service, personnel, transfers, furloughs, promotions, con- 
struction, etc. They contain, however, much scattered material of real 
historical value; and J. R. Soley (Winsor, VII. 414) regards them as 
among the most important of the " letters received ". For example, there 
are many letters of 1806—1807 from naval officers stationed near New 
Orleans, relating to Burr's conspiracy. The letters received from David 
Porter during the summer of 1808 form an interesting group. They deal 
with the maintenance of discipline at New Orleans (letters of August 4, 
5, 11), the difficulties with Spanish officials regarding jurisdiction in West 
Florida and the powers of Governor Claiborne. Other letters relate to 
troubles at New Orleans and at Charleston (Master-Commandant John 
Smith to the Secretary of the Navy, August 10, 1808) over the enforcement 
of the embargo laws. There are also letters from James Biddle, James T. 
Leonard, Lewis Warrington, and others bearing on the War of 1812, many 
of which have an additional interest because of the notes for reply fre- 
quently endorsed upon them. Cruises of the " Wasp " and the capture of 
the " Frolic " are described in letters from Lieutenant Jones, and consid- 
erable light is thrown on the naval operations on the Lakes, in the letters 
from O. H. Perry and Macdonough. 

3. Commanders' letters, 1838-1884. (163 vols.). 

What has been said of the series of " masters' letters " applies to these 
volumes, which indeed continue that earlier series. A large portion of this 
collection is unimportant for historical students and many papers deal with 
routine matters, but occasional letters, particularly in times of naval activity, 
are of much greater interest. The group as a whole is regarded by J. R. 
13 



178 



Navy Department. 



Soley (Winsor, VII. 414) as among the more valuable scries of the " letters 
received ". As in the case of the " masters' letters " this collection contains 
many autographs of men who at a later date in their service became note- 
worthy figures in the American navy. 
J,. Captains' letters, 1805-1861, 1866-1884 (402 vols.). 

The letters from 1802 to 18(50 are with " Admirals' letters " (see 5 below). 
Scattered through B great mass of papers relating to the details of routine 
ice llii^ series contains many letters of the greatest value. The pro- 
portion of valuable material is of course greater in the war periods, but 
sueli material is not wanting at other times; for example, here are found the 
letter apprising the Navy Department of tlie Berlin Decree, and a request 
for authority to recapture vessels from French ships. The material bear- 
ing on tin- War of 1812 is very valuable, there being letters from Porter, 
Hull. 15 linltridge, Rodgcrs, and others. Information relating to the condi- 
tion of the coast defense and of various vessels, as well as to the. situation 
on the I. ikes, is to be found in abundance, and there is a long and interesting 
ription of the cruise of the "Hornet" off the South American coast. 
Of somewhat later date but equally illustrative of the character of the in- 
formation to be gleaned from this series is a letter of December 7, 1825, 
from Captain Isaac Hull, al that time commanding the frigate "United 
States", off Peru, to Secretary Southard. In this letter Hull gives an 
account of conditions in Peru and encloses a report of Captain Thomas 
ApCatesby Jones, who hid been gathering information as to the situation 
on and near the Isthmus of Panama. There are also plans of attacks, re- 
ports of engagements and of depredations by the enemy, department plans, 
etc. As showing the varied scope of letters in this series there may be 
cited finally a report of Captain William H. Macomb to Admiral Farragut, 
dated January 25, 1870, and forwarded with accompanying papers by the 
latter to the Navy Department. Here is found an account of Captain 
Macomb's voyage from England to America as escort to H. B. M. ironclad 
" Monarch " which bore the body of George Peabody. 
5. Admirals' and commodores' letters, 1861-1884- (58 vols.). 

These letters from admirals, commodores, and captains are chiefly con- 
cerned with the routine of administration, as for example, reports of trials 
of new war vessels or recommendations of various officers. Occasional 
letters are of importance for a detailed history of the navy. Among the 
latter may be cited two letters of February 22 and March 14, 1866, and 
one of March 5, 1866, from Admiral Farragut to Secretary Welles and to 
Judge Durell of the U. S. District Court of Louisiana respectively, regard- 
ing the part taken by various vessels of his fleet in the capture of the iron- 
clad " Tennessee " and accompanying gunboats in the battle of Mobile Bay, 
August 5, 1864. 



Naval War Records Office. 179 

6. Letters to officers commanding gunboats, 1803—1808 (I vol.); and 

Barbary Powers instructions {1 vol.). 
These letters relate for the most part to details of construction, to move- 
ments, and to commands; they contain, for example, the instructions in 
accordance with which the first gunboats were built. Special attention 
may be called also to certain letters as to the duties which these small vessels 
were expected to fulfill in the early American navy. With this volume 
may be classed another entitled Barbary Powers giving instructions of the 
department to its officers or agents during the early years of this period, 
for procuring and sending to the Barbary Powers the presents customarily 
made to them by commercial nations at this time. The invoice of one such 
consignment made June 28, 1803, covers eight closely written pages. 

7. Letters to officers of ships of war, 1804—1868 (&£ vols.). 

This series of letters sent corresponds to series 2, 3, and 4, of letters 
received. What has been said of the character and importance of those 
series holds true in regard to these letters in so far as directions for action 
can be compared with letters of description and reports of results obtained. 
In combination with those series and with series 3 these volumes give excel- 
lent accounts of naval operations in many fields. Perhaps the most im- 
portant periods covered are those of the wars with the Barbary States and 
with Great Britain, and the period from 1861 to 1864. Other letters of 
interest are those relating to affairs in South America and the West Indies. 
The earlier volumes contain many letters which, were they of later date, 
would be found in one of the following series. 

8. Private letter-booh, 1813-184.0 (1 vol.). 

The letters in this volume are of similar character to those noted in the 
preceding section but as a rule are more important than those or the letters 
described in section 5. Nearly two-thirds of the volume (229 pages) are 
devoted to the period of the War of 1812 and the letters are extremely 
valuable. Among them are ten letters to Joshua Barney and Charles 
Stewart respectively, nineteen to Stephen Decatur and over sixty to Isaac 
Chauncey. Of later date (September 30, 1817) is a letter to James Biddle 
directing him to proceed to the Columbia River and there assert on the part 
of the United States a claim to the sovereignty of the region drained by that 
river. 

9. Letters of the Secretary of the Navy, 1832-1833 (3 vols.). 

These letters cover but a short period and as a rule are of little interest. 
Either the subjects covered are of so general a nature that little specific 
information can be obtained, or the letters are found to relate to vacancies 
in office and the applications of persons desiring to fill them. Occasional 
letters are of more importance, being of the type described in the preceding 
paragraph. 



180 



Navy Department. 



10. Letters to flag officers and commanders of squadrons and stations, 1861- 

1886 (9 vols.). 
These contain instructions from the department, and may be said to 
present the reverse of the picture given in the letters from admirals and 
commodores. Of less importance than the earlier private letter-book, these 
instructions relate mainly to details of duty and discipline, but sometimes 
possess more general interest, as, for example, when they are concerned with 
political refugees, troubles in South America, etc. 

11. Letters to officers generally, 1S81+-1886 (8 vols.). 

Letters from tlic department bo officers generally (paymasters, ensigns, 
lieutenants, etc) relating to details of duty, complaints, etc. These have 
little or do historical interest. 



II. Sui AimciN Lkttkhs. 

At the beginning of each \olunic of the Squadron Tetters (letters from 
the commanders of squadrons), through 1880, is an index giving name and 
subject for each litter. It must be remembered that the fields of action 
of the same squadron arc not the same at different times. During one 
period a Brazil squadron might be maintained and during another period 
its duties would he performed by the South Atlantic fleet. Frequently the 
letters of several squadrons must be consulted to find all the material in 
those scries bearing upon a given subject or relating to a given territory. 
The movements of t lie different squadrons arc given in the annual reports 
of the department. 

1. African squadron, 1819-1861 (15 vols.). 

Much valuable material relative to the slave-trade, especially in the earlier 
period, together with letters relating to the American Colonization Society 
and to the Maryland State Colonization Society, is to be found. 

2. China station, 181,1-18^ (1 vol.). 

Commodore Lawrence Kearny. Printed in part in S. Doc. 139, 29 Cong., 
1 sess. See Senate resolution, February 25, 1845, calling for correspond- 
ence between the commander of the East India Squadron and foreign powers 
and United States agents abroad, relating to trade and other interests of the 
United States. 

3. Brazil squadron, 181+1-1861 (17 vols.). 

These letters contain much information about affairs in Brazil and South 
America, the condition of American citizens, etc. The letters for 1858- 
1859 are bound with those relating to the Paraguay expedition (see below). 
If.. Pacific squadron, 181+1-1881+ (21+ vols.). 

Here is much important material, especially for 1841—1850, bearing on 
such subjects as Commodore Jones's seizure of Monterey in 1843, war in 



Naval War Records Office. 181 

California and New Mexico, suspicions of England, etc. In later volumes 
are found accounts of affairs in South America, notably in Chile. 

5. Home squadron, 18^2-1861 (16 vols.). 

Especially important is the volume for 1846-1847, giving details about 
the Mexican War. Much information is to be found relating to South 
American, Cuban, and West Indian conditions. 

6. East Indian squadron, 18^.5—1859 (11 vols.). 

These volumes contain much important material, including reports, letters, 
correspondence, etc., relating to Perry's mission to Japan in 1852-1855. A 
narrative of this expedition is in S. Doc, vol. 14, 33 Cong., 2 sess. 

7. Mediterranean squadron, 181/.8—1861 (9 vols.). 

The period covered by these volumes is an extremely interesting one in 
European history and the correspondence of Commodore Charles W. Mor- 
gan commanding the squadron has an increased value for this reason. 
Among the subjects discussed are the conditions in France in 1849, the 
probable future of the French republic and its relations with Morocco 
(letters of October 29, November 15, 1849), the position of the Papacy in 
Italy (June 16, 1850) and difficulties with Portugal over non-payment of 
United States claims (June 25, July 16, 1850). Other subjects of interest 
are the protection of American missionaries in Syria and Egypt in 1850 
and the reception of Kossuth and the Hungarian refugees on board the 
American fleet culminating in the instructions of August 5, 1851, from 
Commodore Morgan to Captain John C. Long of the " Mississippi " to go 
to Smyrna, where Kossuth was on September 10 received aboard an Amer- 
ican vessel. 

8. Eastern squadron — fisheries, 1853 (1 vol.). 

Relating to the fisheries off the northeast coast of America. 

9. Paraguay expedition and Brazil squadron letters, 1858—1859 (1 vol.). 

10. Flotillas, 1861-1865 (3 vols.). 1 

Letters from the Potomac, James River, and Mortar Flotillas. 

11. Mississippi squadrons, 1861—1865 (1J/. vols.). 

12. East Gulf squadron, 1861-1865 (10 vols.). 
IS. West Gulf squadron, 1862-1865 (13 vols.). 

Letters for 1861 are with those of the East Gulf squadron. 
11,.. West India squadron, 1862-1864. (2 vols.). 
15. European station, 1865-1877 (1 vol.). 

In all but its name this volume may be grouped with the following series 

1 So large a part of the material in series 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 is being published 
in the " Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies," that no description 
of them has been considered necessary. 



182 



Navy Department. 



there being little distinction between the two in the character of letters 
contained. 

16. European squadron, 1865-1884. (21 vols.). 

Among the earlier letters in these volumes is an interesting series from 
Admiral David G. Farragut as to the treatment accorded the United States 
fleet on its return to Europe after the Civil War. A letter of October 21, 
1867, detailing the reception given Farragut at Portsmouth, England, may 
be cited i* in example of this material. From 18GG to 18(59 there are 
various letters relating to the Cretan revolution against the Turks, one of 
February 22, 18(>8, from Captain It. II. Wyman forwarded with accompany- 
ing maps and papers to tin- Secretary <>t the Navy being of especial note. 
In this report the attitude of Greece in the struggle is clearly stated. Much 
later in the series is a most interesting group of letters relating to the 
trouble at Alexandria in 1882. 

17. Gulf squadron, in command of Commodore John A. Winslow, 1866- 

1867 (2 vols.). 
These letters contain interesting material relating to riots in New Orleans, 
irs in Mexico, the abdication of Maximilian, the selling of slaves into Cuba 
after the (nil War, etc. As a specimen document may be mentioned a copy 
of a letter from Franklin Chase. United States consul at Tampico, to Rear- 
Admiral Henry K. Thatcher dated June 2, 180(3, and giving a clear descrip- 
tion of the feeling among the Mexicans against the French. The object of 
the letter is, of course, to secure additional naval protection for Americans 
who might be endangered by any riot or revolution resulting from the 
general arousal of Mexican sentiment against Maximilian and the lack of 
a sufficient number of government troops at Tampico to maintain order. 

18. North Pacific squadron, 1866-1878 {10 vols.). 

Here is found some information concerning conditions in Hawaii, coaling 
stations, affairs in Alaska, California, etc. Illustrative letters are one of 
February 18, 1874, from Rear-Admiral Alexander M. Pennock giving an 
account of conditions in Hawaii at the time of the death of King Lunalilo 
and one from his successor Rear-Admiral John J. Almy, dated September 
4, of the same year, stating his readiness to land troops in case of any 
trouble at the time of the prorogation of the Hawaiian Parliament. 

19. Southern Pacific squadron, 1866-1877 (10 vols.). 

Many of these letters relate to political affairs in South American states, 
revolutions, the treatment of citizens of the United States, and the attitude 
of various states toward the United States. 

20. Northern and Southern Pacific squadrons, 1871-1872 (1 vol.). 
These letters bear upon affairs in South American states, especially Peru. 



Naval War Records Office. 1 83 

21. Asiatic squadron, 1867-188 % (19 vols.). 

These volumes contain much material of historical interest, such as re- 
ports on the foreign situation and trade conditions, correspondence with 
consuls, information about Korea, negotiations with Japan, interviews with 
native chiefs, account of a punitive expedition in southern Formosa in 1867, 
etc. 

22. North Atlantic squadron, 1861-1887 (6b vols.). 

These letters relate largely to unimportant details of the service, but 
there are numerous reports on conditions in South America and the West 
Indies, troubles of American citizens, and various other subjects. For 
illustrative material in print see S. Ex. Doc. 34, 41 Cong., 3 sess. 

23. South Atlantic squadron, 1861-188b (36 vols.). 

These letters are concerned mostly with details of the service, but con- 
tain some reports on affairs in Brazil, Paraguay, and other parts of South 
America. 

III. Executive Letters. 

1. Executive letter-books, 1798-1886 (b6 vols.). 

These letters from the Secretary of the Navy to the President and mem- 
bers of the Cabinet are concerned largely with appointments, discharges, 
promotions, and inter-department business. In one letter the opinion of 
the Attorney-General is asked regarding the propriety of a retired naval 
officer's accepting civil office; in another the Navy Department places a 
vessel at the disposal of the Secretary of War, and in a third the best 
location for a light-house is suggested to the Secretary of the Treasury. 
The correspondence with the Department of State is, perhaps, the most 
interesting portion of this series, showing as it does the co-operation between 
these two departments in the execution of details in foreign policy. The 
early volumes are classed as Letters to the President, 1798-1842 (2 vols.), 
Letters to the Secretary of State, 1799-1824 (1 vol.), Letters to the 
Secretary of the Treasury, 1798-1821 (2 vols.), Letters to the Secretary 
of War, 1798-1824 (1 vol.). 

2. Executive letters received, 1837-1866 (38 vols.). 

These letters are of the same general character as those in the letter- 
books, described above. 

IV. COXGHESSIOKAI. CORRESPONDENCE. 

1. Congress letters. 

a. From Committee Chairmen, 1798-1886 (18 vols.). 

b. From Members, 1825-1849 (4 vols.). 

These letters from Congress relate largely to naval legislation, and con- 
tain requests for information. 



184 Navy Department. 

2. Letters to Congress, 179S-1S69 (7 vols.). 

Correspondence between the Navy Department and Congress, conveying 
information, replying to questions, etc. These letters as well as those from 
Congress are of great value for the history of the Navy Department or 
what may be called the civil history of the navy. They contain naval 
estimates, drafts of proposed bills, recommendations for the increase or 
improvement of the navy and the marine corps, statements relative to the 
business of the department, lists of the ships of the navy, and discussions 
of naval policy. They furnish also BOme information respecting the sup- 
pression of the slave trade. 

V. General Correspondence. 

/. Miscellaneous Liters, 1704.-1887 (about 850 vols.). 

In this Beries are Letters received from .ill sources, the general public, 
officers, and especially from enlisted men and their friends. A great variety 
of subjects is treated— transfers, furloughs, promotions, contracts, routine 
of service, etc. There ire many letters from Paul Revere relative to fur- 
nishing copper bottoms for ships, and very interesting letters from Robert 
Fulton describing his torpedo experiments. An account of the mutiny on 
the " General Armstrong " may also be noted. 
2. General letter-books, 1798-1886 (128 vols.). 

This series comprises the letters from the department to the general 
public. There are many replies to applications for office, and much informa- 
tion about the officers of the navy. The work of the Secretary of the Navy 
is well illustrated especially in such matters as the appointment of mid- 
shipmen, naval surgeons, and the civil employees of the department. The 
series furnishes important notes as to the early history of navy yards and 
naval stations and gives information as to various reservations of live-oak 
timber for use in naval construction. A few letters to the agents for 
recaptured Africans may also be mentioned. J. R. Soley (Winsor, VII. 
414) regards this scries as one of the most important of those containing 
" letters sent ". 

8. Confidential letters sent, 1857-1883 (2 vols.). 
If.. Confidential letters received, 1861-1864- (1 vol.). 

VI. Exploring and otheb Expeditions. 

For a bibliography of exploring expeditions see " Reports of explorations 
printed in the documents of the United States government ", compiled by 
Adelaide R. Hasse (Washington, 1809). 
1. South Sea exploring expedition, 
(a) Exploring expedition letters, May, 1836-August, 1838 (4 vols.). 



Naval War Records Office. 185 

These letters relate to fitting out the South Sea expedition, which was at 
first under the command of Commodore Thomas ApCatesby Jones, but 
which, before it sailed, was commanded by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes. 
There are letters from scientific men, naval officers, government officials, 
the President, and others. 
(b) Wilkes's exploring expedition, 1838-1842 (2 vols.). 

These letters are a continuation of the above and relate to the actual work 
and movements of the expedition. For information about the fitting out 
of the expedition see " Niles' Register" for the years 1836-1838. The 
narrative and scientific results of the expedition are printed in " United 
States exploring expedition during the years 1838-1842, under command 
of Charles Wilkes" (Philadelphia, 1844-1874, 20 vols.). 

2. Cruise of the North Carolina (1 vol.) 1837-1839. 

The " North Carolina " was the flagship of Commodore H. E. Ballard 
during a cruise from Valparaiso (May 15, 1837) to various ports on the 
Pacific, and around Cape Horn to New York, which port was reached June 
28, 1838. Many interesting notes are found in this volume. 

3. Notes of a cruise around the world (2 vols.). 

The notes are in verse and appear to have been written by Chaplain Fitch 
W. Taylor during a cruise around the world on the U. S. S. " Columbia ", 
Commodore George C. Read, in 1838. Taylor published a prose account 
of that voyage in 1840 and these notes although undated appear to refer 
to the same trip. A third volume of verse by the same author describes a 
cruise of the " Independence " in the Pacific Ocean, 1855-1857. 

If.. Expedition to the Dead Sea, Lieutenant W. F. Lynch, 18^.8 (1 vol.). 
See S. Ex. Doc. 34, 30 Cong., 2 sess. 

5. Cruise of the "St. Lawrence", Captain H. Paulding, 181^8-1850 (1 vol.). 
Various ports of Europe, including those on the Mediterranean as well 

as those on the northern and western coasts, were visited by the " St. 
Lawrence " and the result is a most interesting story of this period of 
unrest in Europe. 

6. Behring Straits, North Pacific, and China Sea, 1852-1855 (3 vols.). 
Letters relating to the surveying expedition under Commander C. Ring- 
gold and to the removal of Ringgold by Commodore Perry. 

7. Survey of the Rivers Plata, Paraguay, etc., 1853—1856 {1 vol.). 
Letters from Lieutenant Thomas J. Page. Printed in part in the report 

of the Secretary of the Navy, H. Ex. Doc, Vol. I., 34 Cong., 3 sess., pp. 
430-465. 



186 



Navy Department. 



8. Letters from Commander Joint Rodgers; surveying expedition to the 

North Pacific Ocean, 1S54-1S56 (2 vols.). 
An account of the cruise of the " Vincennes " is to be found in these 
letters. 

9. Journal of the " Ino", Lieutenant Jonah P. Creesy, 1862 (1 vol.). 
This journal covers the period of the search made by the " Ino" for the 

Confederate steamer " Sumter ". 

10. Nicaragua surveying expedition, 1S72 (..' snudl volumes and papers). 
Report of A. G. Menoc.il, civil engineer, accompanied by sub-reports. 

11. Cruise of the " Ticonderoga", 1878-1879 (2 vols.). 

The orders of the " Ticonderoga " were to proceed " to the unfrequented 
parts of Africa, Asia, the islands of the Indian Ocean and the adjacent seas, 
particularly where there are at present no American representatives, with a 
view to the encouragement and extension of American commerce". 

12. Journal of George W. De Long, commanding the " Jeannette " expedi- 

tion, 1879-1881 (4 vols.). 
See " The Voyage of the Jeannette. The Ship and Ice Journals of 
George W. De Long ", Emma De Long, editor (Boston, 1883, 2 vols.). 

18. " Jeannette " and " Rogers ", 1881-1888 (1 vol.). 

Letters and telegrams concerning the loss of these vessels, together with 
the correspondence relating to the removal of the bodies of De Long and his 
comrades to the United States. 

VII. Correspondence rki.atino to the Marine Corps. 

See also below under Headquarters of the Marine Corps. 

1. Letters to officers of the Marine Corps, 180^.-1886 (H vols.). 

These letters from the Navy Department appear to be largely of personal 
character, relating to appointments, courts-martial, discharges, etc. 

2. Marine Corps, acceptances, 1812-1862. 

Oaths of allegiance taken by newly appointed officers, letters accepting 
appointments, etc. 

S. Miscellaneous letters, 1828-1886 (76 vols.). 

Letters to the Secretary of the Navy from members of the Marine Corps, 
relating for the most part to discharges, transfers, furloughs, pay, etc. 



VIII. Correspondence relating to Yards and Docks. 

1. Letters to agents at the navy-yards, 1808-1865 (10 vols.). 

From 1808 to 1815 these letters are occasionally of historical value, but 
most of them relate to administrative details. 



Naval War Records Office. 187 

2. Letters from navy-yards and naval stations, 18 48-1884 {about S25- vols.'). 
These letters relate for the most part to details of the service, supplies, 
construction, discipline, sales, etc. They are arranged in various series 
by yards and stations, and the dates of the beginning and ending of the 
respective series vary. 
S. Letters to commandants of yards, etc., 1868—1886 {10 vols.). 

If.. European dock yards, 1870 {1 vol.). 

Report on the dock yards of Europe, by T. D. Wilson. 

5. Inventory of public property of Navy Department, 1878 {If vols.). 
Boston, Mare Island, Portsmouth, New York, League Island, Norfolk, 

Key West, Pensacola, etc. 

6. Inspection reports. 

Chief engineers' letters; reports of commissions for sale of navy-yards. 

IX. Miscellaneous Files. 

Under this heading are arranged in chronological order those series 
which do not clearly belong under any of the preceding headings. 

1. John Paul Jones papers, 1778—1791. 

Aside from the collection of this name in the Library of Congress there 
is in the Navy Department an important series of transcripts from original 
manuscripts in Europe and America relating to this officer. Among them 
are copies of papers at Douglas Castle, St. Mary's Isle, Scotland, dating 
from 1778 to 1791, all relating to Jones and including a letter-book of that 
captain, 1778—1779. Here are also log-books of the " Serapis ", and 
" Alliance " and the " Ariel " when under the command of Jones, and 
finally a transcript of that portion of the log of the " Ranger " (April 23- 
May 8, 1778) covering the period of the capture of the " Drake ". These 
papers were secured by Rear-Admiral Charles H. Stockton and presented to 
the Navy Department in 1904. 

2. British Naval Commissioners: letter-booh, 1784—1790. 

This letter-book of the British Naval Commissioners was recently pur- 
chased by the department. It contains both letters sent and received, many 
of which are of considerable interest and appear to be confidential. 

3. Contracts with the Navy Department, 1794-1860 {6 vols.). 
If.. John Rodgers papers, 1797—184-2 {72 vols, or bundles). 

These papers of the first Commodore Rodgers afford a good illustration 
of the character of the collections coming to the Navy Department from 
the relatives of prominent naval officers. These manuscripts may be well 
compared with those forming the original Edward Preble collection, por- 
tions of which are now in widely separated places. Illustrative manu- 



1SS 



Navy Department. 



scripts of the collection arc five volumes of journals or letter and order- 
books of the U. S. S. "Constitution", 1800-1810, three volumes of like 
character for the "President", 1810-1811, and five more relating to other 
vessels commanded by Rodgers. Ten further groups of papers are con- 
nected with Mediterranean affairs during the troubles between the United 
States and the Barhary powers in the early nineteenth century. Supple- 

menting the papers already named, 49 additional volumes or bundles of 
manuscripts contain m iterial of a varying degree of interest for the period 
of more than forty years covered by tlie collection. Among them may be 
noted, as of local interest, three packages relating to the defense of Alex- 
andria, Baltimore, and Washington in 1811. 

.-;. Prisoner* of the li'ar of 1812, 1812-1816 {transferred from the State 
Department'). 
These papers, transferred from the Bureau of Rolls and Library, are in 
three large chests. The first contains lists of exchanged prisoners (for the 
most part j>ri\ itccrsmen), giving time of capture, name of vessels, etc.; also 
a large number of bundles of letters relating to prisoners, their histories, 
efforts to get exchanged, etc. The second contains the log-book of the 
United States cartel-ship " Analostan ", William P. Smith, commander; lists 
of paroles of British and American prisoners of war in the West Indies; 
invoices of supplies for the Indians on the northern frontier sent by tl e 
Secretary of War to Governor Cass of Michigan, 1815; reports by United 
States marshals relating to aliens within their districts; letters from aliens 
asking permission to dwell in certain cities ; and vouchers of disbursements 
for distressed American seamen. The third chest contains reports of mar- 
shals relating to prisoners in their districts; bundles of paroles; and lists 
of escaped prisoners, with information as to their methods of escape. 

6. American prisoners, 1812 (3 vols.). 

These three books, recently purchased, contain the original records of 
the American prisoners captured in the War of 1812 and taken to Halifax, 
Jamaica and Barbadoes. The records show the name of each prisoner, the 
date of his capture, the name of the vessel on which he had served, and the 
final disposition made of him (exchanged, etc.). 

7. British naval records for the War of 1812 (5 vols.). 

Another valuable group of papers relating to this period is a series of 
transcripts of British naval records for the War of 1812. These papers, 
given to the Navy Department by Captain A. T. Mahan, include the log- 
books of various British vessels, reports and letters of individual officers 
and the proceedings of the courts-martial held in consequence of the defeats 
of the British on Lakes Erie and Champlain. There are many manuscripts 
also relating to the New Orleans campaign. It may be added that in the 



Naval War Records Office. 189 

first volume of this collection are numerous manuscripts dealing with 
American naval history from 1776 to 1801. Among those of the Revolu- 
tionary period specific mention may be made of the records of a court- 
martial held March 10, 1780, to inquire into the circumstances attendant 
upon the loss of the " Serapis " in September of the previous year. 

8. William Mervine papers, 1812-1857 . 

This group of papers is in two parts. The first consists of general corre- 
spondence composed almost wholly of letters received, with a few copies 
of letters sent and many miscellaneous reports, orders, and documents dating 
from 1812 to 1857. The second part covers the period 1832-1857, and is 
made up of log-books and letter-books of the " Experiment ", " Natchez ", 
" Cyane ", " Savannah ", " John Adams ", and " Independence " during the 
period of Commodore Mervine's connection with each vessel. 

9. Guert Gansevoort papers, 1827— 186^.. 

This collection includes the Journal of Guert Gansevoort when on the 
" Sabine ", 1827-1828, and various letter-books and log-books of the " Ports- 
mouth ", the prize " Excellent ", the " Decatur ", the " Adirondack " and of 
the ironclad "Roanoke", 1845—1864, the dates varying in accordance with 
Commodore Gansevoort's connection with the respective vessels. 

10. Navy commissioners' letters, 1827-184-2 (29 vols.). 

These letters from the navy commissioners relate to construction, repair, 
and equipment of vessels, to contracts, buildings in navy-yards, etc. See 
also below under Bureau of Construction and Repair. 

11. William Reynolds papers, 1888-1879. 

These papers consist almost entirely of Rear-Admiral Reynolds's corre- 
spondence during his long period of service in the United States navy and 
include both private letters and those received from the department at 
Washington. Perhaps the most interesting portions of the collection are 
those relating to the Wilkes expedition of 1839 and the survey of the 
Columbia River, the letters of the Civil War period, and those covering the 
period of Admiral Reynolds's cruise in command of the East India squadron. 

12. Circulars and Orders, 1798-1865 (2 vols.). 
A very important series. 

18. Bureau letters, 1842-1884. (83 vols.). 

These letters from the bureaus of the department relate only to the details 
and routine of the administration of the department and its bureaus. 

11,.. Letters to heads of bureaus, 181,2-1886 (7 vols.). 

These letters relate to the routine of the administration of the department 
and are of the same general character as those in the preceding series. 



190 Navy Deportment. 

15. Navy agents' and store-keepers' letters, 181,3-1865 (27 vols.). 

A continuation of navy commissioners' letters and of the same general 
character. 

16. John ('. Howell papers, 181,1,-1880. 

The most important manuscripts in this collection are ten letter-books 
covering the period of Admiral Howell's service as lieutenant on the " Min- 
nesota " and captain on the " Tahamo" and " Nereus " from 18G1 to 18G4. 
Of almost equal importance is a large group of pamphlets including partic- 
ularly a report on the bursting of the great gun " Peacemaker " on board 
the " Princeton ". February 28, 1844. There are also some letters written 
during the later period of the admiral's service in European waters and at 
home. 

17. The Fluster papers, 181,7-1861,. 

In this collection are found botli private letters and the correspondence 
of Lieutenant-Commander C. W. Flusser with the Navy Department, the 
letters continuing almost to the time of the death of that officer in the 
engagement with the Confederate ram "Albemarle", April 19, 1804. The 
more Important letters are of the periods of the Mexican and Civil Wars. 

18. Fourth auditors' and second comptrollers' letters, 181,7-1881, (57 vols.). 
The letters received from the accounting officers relative to pay-rolls, naval 

espi nditures, and department finance in general. 

19. Naval Asylum letters, 181,9-1850 (1 vol.). 

Letters received relating to admissions to the naval asylum. 
.'". Corporal punishment and sj>irii rations, 1850 (1 vol.). 

Opinions of such officers as Sloat, Stockton, Shubrick, I. B. Hull, etc., on 
the subjects of corporal punishment and the effect of the spirit ration, 
written in reply to questions from the Secretary of the Navy. 

SI. Congress resolutions, 1851-1861 (1 vol.). 

22. Navy agents and general orders, 1858-1865 (2 vols.). 

23. Commodore C. S. McCauley's mission to Cuba, 1855 (1 vol.). 
Letters relating to the affair of the ship " El Dorado ". Spain had ex- 
ercised the right of visitation and search, and Commodore McCauley's mis- 
sion was in the nature of a demonstration by the United States. 

21,. Resignations and dismissals, 1859—1865 (8 vols.). 

25. Prizes, 1861-1865 (1,6 vols.). 

Reports of prize cases and final decrees; records and lists of prizes, etc. 

26. Letters from foreign consuls to commanders of United States vessels 

or to the Navy Department, 1861-1865. 
These letters are of great interest, bearing on Confederate privateers, 
blockade running, construction of Confederate vessels in European ports, etc. 



Naval War Records Office. 191 

27. Inventions, examining board, and permanent commission, 1861—1865 (7 

vols.). 

28. Lists of officers of vessels, 1861-1865 {25 vols.). 

29. Lists of officers of squadrons and fleets, 1862-1865 (2 vols.). 

30. Medals of honor transmitted and acknowledged, 1862—1866 (2 vols.). 

81. Letters to the Naval Academy, 1869-188 % (15 vols.). 

These letters relate to the routine of the administration of the academy. 

82. Naval examining board, 1870-1872 (3 vols.). 

Letters from the naval examining board accompanying reports on ex- 
aminations for promotion; the reports themselves are not included, but 
recommendations as to procedure are sometimes made, which are of some 
interest. 

S3. Lists of officers at yards and on vessels, 1870—1889 (31 vols.). 
Slf.. Applications for positions, 1872-187 Jf. (2 vols.). 

Navy Department, Naval Academy, navy-yards, and naval stations. 
85. Correspondence relating to the seizure of the ship " Virginius " by the 
Cuban authorities, 1873 (1 vol.). 

These letters contain interesting testimony of persons on board the 
" Virginius ". 
36. Preble, George Henry. 

A " History of the Charlestown Navy Yard to 1875 ". This is a manu- 
script work in 17 volumes which the department intends to publish in the 
future; some of the chapters are most interesting. 
87. Naval advisory board. Report, 1880-1881 (1 vol.). 

38. Gun foundry board. Report, 1883-1884, (1 vol.). 
See H. Ex. Doc. 97, 48 Cong., 1 sess. 

39. Dr. Wilson vs. King of Johanna, 1885: 

Voluminous report, by Commodore Harrington, on the trouble between 
Dr. Wilson and the King of Johanna. 

IfO. Naval expedition to the Isthmus of Panama, Commander B. H. McCalla, 
1885 (1 vol.). 

Telegrams, instructions, etc., relating to affairs in Central and South 
America. 

]f.l. Addresses of officers on vessels, 1887—1889 (1 vol.). 
42. Steel inspection board, 1887-1890 (1 vol.). 

Report on steel tests. 



192 Navy Department. 

X. Loaned Papebs relating to the Civil Wab. 

In collecting material for the " Official Records " the Naval War Records 
Office procured as loins various private collections of papers, belonging 
for the most part to the officers or the families of officers in the Union and 
Confederate navies. The more important of these papers are to be found in 
the published volumes, but many of considerable interest could not be in- 
clnded. 

Although these collections cannot be called a part of the archives of the 
department (some of them, in fact, have already been returned to their 
owners), it is thought that the accompanying list may be of service in aiding 
the student to locate important material. In the list given below are in- 
cluded: first, brief descriptions of the more important collections relating 
to the Union navy; second, a list of the names of officers in the Union navy 
whose papers were loaned; third, a list of the Confederate officers whose 
papers were obtained by the office. Information in regard to any of these 
collections can be obtained through correspondence with the Naval War 
Records Office, and the present location of such papers as have been returned 
to their owners can thus be learned. 

Important Union Papers. 
1. Adams, II. A. 

(a) Seventy-one letters received (18G1-18G5) ; (/>) one copy-book of 
letters sent (18G3). 

.'. "Bailey, Theodore. 

(a) Six press-copy books, letters to Secretary of Navy; (fe) order-books 
( 1802-1 801) ; (c) four books, reports of captures and expeditions (1802- 
1804); (</) two scrap-books. 

8. Bell, II. II. 

(a) Seven letter-books (1802-1804) ; (6) private diaries, six small volumes 
(1802-1803); (c) loose papers, relating to the Sabine Pass affair; (d) 
letters from Farragut (1801-1804). 

4. Craven, T. A. M. 
One letter-book. 

5. Dahlgren, J. A. 

(a) Forty-six letter-books (1803-1805), containing current letters, naval 
correspondence, admiral's original orders, ironclad reports, staff journals, 
admiral's logs, despatches from and to Navy Department, letters from 
Admiral Dahlgren, and extracts from consular despatches; (6) notes on 
coasts of South Carolina; (c) letter-books relating to the South Pacific 
squadron, while under command of Dahlgren in 1801; (d) note-books on 
guns, navy-yard, record and service. 



Naval War Records Office. 193 

6. Davenport, H. K. 

Letter-books (1838-1872, but mostly 1862-1864), containing letters from 
the Light House Board, and letters and reports from the United States 
naval flotilla in the sounds of North Carolina. 

7. DuPont, S. F. 

(o) Fifteen letter-books (1861-1863); (b) squadron letters received 
(1861-1863); (c) army letters received (1861-1863); (d) letters from 
Navy Department (1861-1863); (e) private and semi-official letters (1861— 
1865). 

8. Farragut, D. G. 

(a) Orders, letters, despatches, etc., to Secretary of Navy, Navy De- 
partment and bureaus, and to army and navy officers (1862-1864); (b) 
squadron letter-books (1862-1864); (c) letters and reports received (1861- 
1865). 

9. Foote, A. H. 

(a) Letters and documents relating to naval operations in the west; (6) 
letters and documents from various officers and persons; (c) letter-books 
(1861-1862). 

10. Goldsborough, L. M. 

(a) Telegrams and private letters; (&) letter-books: — North Atlantic 
squadron (1861-1862), European squadron (1865-1867), to Secretary of 
Navy (1865-1867), to ministers and consuls (1865-1867). 

11. McKean, W. W. 

Six letter-books (1861-1862). 

12. Mervine, William. 

(a) Two letter-books (1861 and 1836-1868); (&) journal of a cruise in 
the U. S. S. " Mississippi" (1861). 

IS. Patterson, T. H. 

(a) Letter-books (1862-1865); (&) order-books (1861-1865); (c) letter- 
book of Commander William Reynolds (1865). 

U. Preble, G. H. 

One hundred and seventy-one letters (1862-1865). 

15. Radford, William. 

(a) Miscellaneous letters and telegrams and correspondence with the de- 
partments; (b) general orders and circulars; (c) descriptions of vessels, list 
of vessels and officers; (d) log-book and battery books. 

16. Rhind, A. C. 

(a) Letters (1863); (6) papers and letters relating to the explosion of 
the powder-boat " Louisiana " at Fort Fisher. 
14 



194 



Navy Department. 



17. Roe, F. A. 

(a) Two letter-books (1802-1805); (b) private journal (August, 1801- 
Decembcr, 184 

18. Rowan, S. C. 

(a) Official correspondence (1861-1864); (b) letter-book (1854-1880). 

19. Sands, B. F. 

Eleven Letters (March .;o-June 8, 1805). 

20. Stribling, C. K. 

General orders and circulars (18(54—1805). 

21. Walke, If. 

Correspondence, letter-books, orders, reports, etc., relating to (1) store- 
house supply (1850-1801); (2) gunboat fleet (1801-1803); (3) U. S. S. 
" Sacramento " (1868-1868). 

22. Welles, Gideon. 

Twelve letter-books (1802-1809), containing all his naval correspondence. 

28. Wilkes, Charles. 

(a) Fourteen letter-press copy-books (1802-1803); (b) correspondence 
with Navy Department (1802-1803); (c) correspondence of James River 
and West India squadrons (1802-1803). 



Other Union officers 
Alden, Jas. 
Ammen, D. 
Arnold, H. N. T. 

Baird, G. W. 
Balch, G. B. 
Bartlett, J. R. 
Beardslee, L. A. 
Beaumont, J. G. 
Bishop, J. 
Blake, H. C. 
Boutelle, C. O. 
Braine, D. L. 
Browne, Wm. R. 
Bunce, F. M. 

Chase, W. 
Clitz, J. M. B. 
Colhoun, E. R. 
Cooke, A. P. 
Corbin, T. G. 
Craven, T. T. 
Crosby, P. 



whose papers were loaned. 
Davis, C. H. 
Doss, Sylvester. 
Drayton, P. 
Dyer, N. M. 

Eagle, H. 
Ealer, H. A. 
Eastman, T. H. 
Ellet, A. W. 
Emmons, Geo. F. 

Fairfax, D. McM. 
Frailey, J. M. 

Gardner, J. W. 
Glisson, O. S. 
Goldsborough, H. A. 
Goldsborough, John R. 
Green, J. F. 
Greer, J. A. 

Haggerty, F. S. 
Hooker, E. 



Howell, J. C. 
Hull, J. B. 

Jenkins, T. A. 
Johnston, J. V. 

Kilgore, W. F. 

Lardner, J. L. 
Latch, E. B. 
Lee, S. P. 
Le Roy, W. E. 
Luce, S. B. 

McCann, W. P. 
McCauley, Edw. 
McCauley, E. Y. 
Mackay, George. 
Mackie, J. F. 
Macomb, W. H. 
Mahan, A. T. 
Marchand, J. B. 
Marston, John. 



Naval War Records Office. 



195 



Megler, J. G. 
Morgan, Gen. G. W. 
Morton, G. 
Mullany, J. R. M. 

Newman, W. B. 
Nourse, J. E. 

Parker, J. 
Parrott, E. G. 
Parsons, L. B. 
Paulding, L. 
Pearson, G. F. 
Perkins, G. H. 
Porter, D. D. 
Price, Cicero. 



Pritchett, J. M. 

Ransom, Geo. M. 
Reynolds, Wm. 
Rutherford, W. H. 

Sartori, L. C. 
Shober, J. F. 
Shock, Wm. H. 
Simpson, Edward. 
Sims, C. S. 
Slattery, D. P. 
Smith, M. 
Steedman, C. 
Stevens, T. H. 
Stevenson, J. H. 



Street, W. T. 
Trenchard, S. D. 

Van Dyke, G. B. 
Varnick, G. L. 

Watmough, P. G. 
Welch, Will L. 
Willenbucher, E. 
Wilson, T. D. 
Winslow, J. A. 
Wise, H. A. 
Woodhull, Maxwell. 
Worden, J. L. 

Yost, G. R. 



Confederate officers 
Averett, S. W. 

Baker, Jas. McC. 
Barney, Jos. N. 
Barron, Samuel. 
Blackmar, A. O., Jr. 
Bragg, Braxton. 
Brent, Thos. W. 
Brooke, John M. 
Buchanan, Franklin. 
Bullock, Jas. D. 

Carter, Wm. F. 
Cary, Clarence. 
Cooke, Jas. W. 

Duvall, R. C. 

Edmondson, R. B. 
Eggleston, Everard T. 

Fairies, T. A. 
Farrand, Ebenezer. 
Forrest, French. 

Gait, Francis L. 
Gift, Geo. W. 
Goodwyn, Matthew P. 



■whose papers were loaned. 
Gunther, C. F. 
Guthrie, John J. 

Harlan, Jas. 
Henderson, Alex. 
Hodges, W. R. 
Hoge, Francis L. 
Hollins, Geo. N. 
Hunter, Wm. W. 

Jackson, Thos. A. 
Jackson, Wm. H. 
Jones, C. Lucien. 
Jones, Catesby ap R. 

Lamb, Wm. (Col.). 
Lindsay, J. W. 
Littlepage, Hardin B. 
Loyall, Benj. P. 

McCarrick, Patrick. 
McCarrick, Patrick H. 
Magruder, J. B. 
Mason, Jas. M. 
Minot, Robt. D. 
Morgan, Jas. M. 

North, Jas. H. 



Page, Thos. J. 
Pointdexter, Carter B. 
Pointdexter, Reginald. 
Porter, John L. 
Porter, J. W. H. 

Ramsay, Henry A. 
Randolph, Victor M. 

Schober, Fred. 
Semmes, Raphael. 
Simms, Chas. C. 
Sinclair, Arthur. 
Sinclair, Geo. T. 
Slidell, John. 
Smith, P. E. 
Stone, S. D., Jr. 
Swain, Edw. A. 

Tattnall, Josiah. 
Thompson, Jacob. 
Tombs, Jas. H. 
Tucker, John R. 

Waddell, Jas. I. 
Webb, Wm. A. 
Wood, John T. 
Wright, Marcus J. 



196 Navy Department. 

BUREAU OF NAVIGATION. 

The Bureau of Navigation promulgates and makes a record of all orders 
to the fleet and to officers of the navy, keeps the records of service of all 
squadrons, ships, officers, and enlisted men, receives reports of service per- 
formed by ships, officers, or men, and of inspections, prepares and revises 
tactics, drill-hooks, signal and cipher codes, and regulations governing uni- 
form and service afloat, directs all rendezvous and receiving ships, and has 
charge of the enlistment and discharge of all enlisted men, and of all that 
relates to the education of officers and men except the Naval War College. 

The bureau was established in 186S (12 Stat. L. 510), but its records 
date from 1708. They are mainly of two kinds; (a) personal records, 
comprising the records of the office of detail, mentioned by Soley as of value 
in supplementing the "letters sent" in the Naval War Records Office, and 
(b) log-books. The semi-annual Navy Register is prepared in this bureau; 
this important publication has been issued every year, beginning in 1814, 
with the exception of 1810; (luring a part of this time it appeared only 
annually. A complete set of Navy Registers is in the library of the Navy 
Department. A " General Navy Register ", containing a list of all officers 
of the Navy from 1775 to 1000 (New York, L. R. Hamersly, 1901) is 
convenient for purposes of reference although not complete for the period 
of the American Revolution. For the history of the various vessels to 1853 
a publication by Lieutenant George F. Emmons: " The Navy of the United 
States, 177»-1853" (Washington, 1853), may be used. This contains the 
history of the service of each vessel (including privateers) and shows its 
ultimate fate; the data are arranged in tabular form and are (except for 
a few errors and omissions) substantially accurate, but the ditto marks should 
be followed with caution. This volume will, however, be superseded by 
R. W. Neeser's forthcoming " Statistical and Chronological History of the 
United States Navy, 1775-1907 ". 

I. Personal Records. 

1. Record, 1798 to date (about J^00 vols.). 

The " Record " contains the orders sent to officers. It was formerly 
known as the " Register ", and before that as " Appointments and Orders ". 

2. Reports on officers, 181$ to date. 

A series of volumes containing confidential reports made by superior 
officers on the conduct of their subordinates. 
8. Enlistments, rendezvous, 184-6 to date (about 1+00 vols.). 

Register of enlistments, recruiting station returns, and muster rolls, con- 
taining information about enlisted men; a few papers antedate 1846. 



Bureau of Construction and Repair. 197 

II. Log-Books. 

All the log-books that are in the possession of the Navy Department are 
in the Bureau of Navigation. There are books on file from 1801, though 
until 1816 many were retained by officers; since that date, however, prac- 
tically all the log-books have been filed in the department. This class of 
material is not of so great value for historical purposes as might be sup- 
posed; for example, the account of the engagement between the " Constitu- 
tion " and the " Guerriere " is brief and meagre, giving only an outline of 
the movements of the " Constitution ". Theodore Roosevelt, in the preface 
to his " Naval War of 1812 ", says, " The log-books are rather exasperating, 
often being very incomplete ", and cites, as an illustration, the log-book 
of the frigate " United States ", which does not contain a single fact about 
the fight in which the " Macedonian " was captured. The only published 
list of log-books is the "Office Memoranda No. 5 ", referred to above; it 
gives only the books of the Civil War period. Lists of vessels, however, 
are to be found in the Navy Registers, as well as in the " Blue Books ". 



BUREAU OF CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR. 

The Bureau of Construction and Repair has charge, as its title indicates, 
of the designing, building, fitting, and repairing of ships and of the larger 
part of their permanent fixtures. Its records are largely technical, and 
their interest would be chiefly for the history of naval architecture. This 
bureau is the repository of the greater part of the records of the navy 
commissioners, dating from 1815 to 1842, and consisting of correspondence, 
accounts, returns, etc. 

I. Navy Commissioners' Records. 

These records of the navy commissioners relate almost wholly to the 
construction, equipment, and repair of vessels, the principal function of 
the commissioners being the superintendence of such work. They are of 
considerable value for the information they contain relating to the con- 
struction, architecture, types of vessels, etc., of the old navy, and have been 
used somewhat by naval historians, but they do not relate to movements of 
vessels or to officers, such matters being under the direct supervision of thej 
Secretary. 
1. Correspondence, 1815-18Jf.2. 

The correspondence is in two series: (a) letters sent; (fe) letters received. 
The former are arranged chronologically, the latter by navy-yards, the 
letters from each yard being filed in the order of their receipt. The corre- 
spondence is chiefly with officers in navy-yards, or elsewhere, superintending 
the construction of vessels; it is preserved in volumes, boxes, and bundles, 



198 Xavy Department. 

of which there are many hundreds, and is kept in the basement of the 

Navy building. 

~. Accounts, reports, returns, etc. 

These papers ire arranged in bundles and, being stored in chests at the 
Washington Navy- Yard, arc practically inaccessible. On each chest is a 
type-written list showing the general character of the papers within, and 
from these lists the records are shown to consists of the following classes 
of papers: 

Muster-rolls, 1815-1842; 

Offers to furnish materials at navy-yards, 1810-1841; 

Sundry store returns, 1810-1842; 

Reports of surveys on ships and ships' stores, 1810-1843; 

Proposals and scales of offers for naval supplies, 1810-1843; 

Reports of money expended out of the "gradual increase fund", 1817 
(1 bundle); 

Timber reports, 1 81 7-1 8 K'; 

Reports on the state and condition of naval vessels, 1818-1842 (S3 
bundles) ; 

Rules and regulations for navy-yards, 1819-1822; 

Appropriations, 1819-1828; 

Monthly report of contracts, 1819-1842; 

Report of officers and men, 1819-1842; 

Vouchers, 1820-1830; 

Cost of building the schooner " Alligator "; 

Accounts of sales at auction, 1824-1833; 

Account of provisions shipped, 1820-1842; 

Report of the cost of materials and labor in repairing naval vessels, 1820— 
1842; 

Monthly exhibits, 1828-1831; 

Navy-yard pay-rolls, 1819-1842. 

II. Regular Records of the Bureau. 

The regular records of the bureau extend from 1842 to date and consist 
of examination-papers, ships' surveys, specifications, contracts, records of 
the board on changes, etc. They include two chests of papers pertaining 
to what was called " Admiral Gregory's office " ; these relate to vessels 
building outside of navy-yards between 1801 and 1800. Most of the 
regular records of the bureau are stored in boxes at the Washington Navy- 
Yard. 



Headquarters of the Marine Corps. 199 

OFFICE OF THE JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL. 

This office was established in 1865 (13 Stat. L. 468), its head bearing the 
title, Solicitor and Naval Judge- Advocate-General. In 1870 the office was 
discontinued but in 1880 was permanently established with the title Judge- 
Advocate-General of the Navy (21 Stat. L. 164). The judge-advocate- 
general is the law officer of the Navy Department; it is his duty to revise, 
report upon, and have recorded the proceedings of all courts-martial, courts 
of inquiry, and boards for the examination of officers and candidates or for 
special purposes, such as selection of sites; to examine and report upon 
all claims filed in the department; to prepare forms for bonds and contracts 
and to examine all bonds and contracts ; to report on all legal questions sub- 
mitted to him, etc. 

The records of the proceedings of courts-martial and of boards of inquiry 
are the ones of most interest and historical value. They are complete since 
July, 1799, and are arranged chronologically in volumes, while there is a 
general index showing the names of the persons affected and the dates, 
charges, and departmental action in each case. The records of courts and 
boards are not regularly printed, but many are to be found in the congres- 
sional documents, and some are privately printed. The chief value of such 
records lies in the light they throw upon the details of the events to which 
they relate. Frequently they reveal facts about engagements and move- 
ments not included in the official reports. 



HEADQUARTERS OF THE MARINE CORPS. 

The records of the Marine Corps are said to relate largely to the per- 
sonnel of that body, and consist of muster-rolls, returns, reports, enlistments, 
etc., including the reports of many engagements. The records of enlist- 
ments, which alone were accessible, 1 date from 1798. For a detailed his- 
tory of the organization, see the " History of the U. S. Marine Corps ", by 
Richard S. Collum (New York, 1903). 

J The archives of the Marine Corps are inaccessible, being packed in boxes and 
stored in the Marine Barracks. The information given above was derived through 
questioning members of the clerical force of the headquarters of the Marine Corps. 



200 Department of the Interior. 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. 

The Interior Department was established by the act of March 3, 1849 
(9 Stat. L. 395). A brirf account of the " History and Business Methods 
of the Department of the Interior, its Bureaus and Offices ", by Emmett 
Womack (Washington, l H *. 1 7 ) is somewhat out of date, but is still service- 
able as indicating the duties <>t' the department. The general archives of 
the department do not antedate 1849, but the archives of the Pension Bureau, 
the Office of Indian Affairs, the Patent Office, and the General Land Office, 
all of which were transferred to the Department of the Interior from other 
departments, extend back to the establishment of the respective offices. The 
office of the Secretary is organized in several divisions, of which those that 
are of most importance because of their records are described below. In 
addition to the divisions more fully described, should be noted the Disbursing 
Division, where are kept the ledgers and other records of all appropriations 
expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, the Division 
of Lands and Railroads, which is the medium through which the Secretary 
of the Interior communicates with the General Land Office and in which is 
kept a docket of all the appeal cases considered by the first assistant at- 
torney, and the office of the first assistant attorney, where are prepared 
the decisions of the Secretary in cases relating to the public lands; the more 
important of these decisions are printed: " Decisions of the Department of 
the Interior and General Land Office in Cases relating to the Public Lands ", 
1881- (Washington, 1887-). 

A list of the publications of the Interior Department to 1881 is printed 
in S. Ex. Doc. 182, 47 Cong., 1 sess. 



PATENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE 

SECRETARY. 

The Patents and Miscellaneous Division conducts the general correspond- 
ence of the Secretary's office (except that relating to appointments, Indians, 
lands, and railroads), and is therefore the repository of the more valuable 
classes of records of that office. The files consist mostly of letters sent and 
letters received and commence in 1849, although some papers of earlier 
dates are to be found. The arrangement of the files is irregular; until 
about 1881, letters received were grouped under several headings, but since 
that date most of them have been filed in a single series. The following list, 
for which acknowledgment should be made to Mr. Acker, the chief of the 
division, comprises chiefly what are known as the " old files ", i. e., those 
prior to 1881. 



Patents and Miscellaneous Division. 201 

I. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OFFICERS OF THE GOVERNMENT. 

1. Miscellaneous letters sent, January 26, 1854— June 80, 1892 (89 vols.). 
These letters are to members of Congress, to the President, and to heads 

of executive departments and bureaus; they relate to a great variety of 
subj ects. 

2. Letters received from Congress, 1850-1880 (1 file-box). 

Largely resolutions of the Senate or House, or requests from committees 
asking for information. Some of the reports furnished in reply by officers 
of the Interior Department are filed with these letters. 

3. Presidents' letters, 1858-1880 (1 file-box). 

Many of these letters are wholly unimportant; a series from 1853 to 
1869 relates to the Executive Mansion; another, of 1864, to the rebuild- 
ing of the President's stables. Beginning in 1864- are letters from the 
President submitting proposed legislation for examination. 

4. Letters from the executive departments, 184-9-1880 (4 file-boxes). 
These letters are of a miscellaneous character, and are arranged by de- 
partments; those from the Secretary of State commence in 1863; from the 
Secretary of the Treasury in 1849; War, 1858; Navy, 1855; Agriculture, 
1862-1875; Attorney-General, 1862; Postmaster-General, 1862; Smithson- 
ian Institution, 1849. 

5. Correspondence with the judiciary. 

Cf. similar material in office of the chief clerk of the Department of 
Justice. 

(a) Letters sent, January 25, 1854, to January 27, 1869 (45 vols.). 

(b) Miscellaneous letters from Court of Claims, 1855—1872 (part of 
one file-box), relating chiefly to accommodations for the court. 

II. Correspondence with Bureaus of the Interior Department. 

1. Letters sent to the commissioner of pensions, 1854—1883 {28 vols.). 

2. Letters received from commissioners of pensions, 1849—1883 (63 file- 

boxes) . 
These letters are grouped in several series; they relate to such matters as 
bounty-land claims in New Mexico, construction of pension laws, pension 
agents and agencies, appointments, defalcations and delinquencies, pension 
frauds and criminal practices, etc. 

8. Reports (55 file-boxes). 

These reports are by the commissioner of pensions and relate to appeals 
in pensions and bounty-land claims; they are arranged alphabetically. 

4. Letters sent to commissioner of patents, 1857-1873 (1 vol.). 



202 Department of the Interior. 

5. Letters received from commissioners of 'patents, 1849-1881 (9 file-boxes). 
These include miscellaneous letters, requests for admission of articles, 

such as books and models, free of duty; papers relating to well-known 
patent cases, to the Patent Congress in Vienna, etc. 

6. Correspondence with General Land Office. 

This consists of one volume of miscellaneous letters sent during June, 
July, and August, 1877, and of one file-box of miscellaneous letters received, 
1850 to 1880. 

?. Miscellaneous letters from commissioner of Indian affairs, 1851—1880 
(part of one file-box). 

8. Miscellaneous letters from commissioner of education, 1867-1881 (part 

of one file-box). 
Many of these relate to concerns granting worthless diplomas. 

9. Miscellaneous letters from Geological Survey, 1867-1908 (8 file-boxes). 
Included in these boxes are also letters between 1877 and 1880, relating 

to the entomological commissions. 

III. Slave Tbade and Colonization Papebs. 

A valuable class of materials is that comprising the papers relating to 
the suppression of the slave trade and to schemes for colonizing negroes. 
These papers fill eight file-boxes and four volumes. All come between the 
dates 18;>t and 1872; those relating to the suppression of the slave trade 
consist of correspondence with the United States marshals and attorneys, 
and with the President and members of the cabinet, of papers relating to the 
slaver "Augusta", 1801-1802, and of miscellaneous correspondence; those 
relating to colonization schemes consist of correspondence with officers of the 
government, consuls, judges of mixed courts, emigration agents and com- 
missioners, and officers of the American Colonization Society. The attempt 
to establish a colony on lie a Vache was the occasion of much correspond- 
ence, and of full and interesting reports by agents of the government relat- 
ing to the failure of the colony. 

IV. Territorial Papers. 

By the act of March 1, 1873 (17 Stat. L. 484) all the powers and duties 
with respect to the territories formerly exercised or performed by the 
Secretary of State were transferred to the Secretary of the Interior. The 
territorial papers that had accumulated in the Department of State prior 
to 1873, were not however transferred, but are now in the Bureau of Rolls 
and Library of that department. The territorial papers in the Patents and 
Miscellaneous Division of the Interior Department extend from 1873 to the 



Patents and Miscellaneous Division. 203 

present time. They consist mainly of the executive proceedings of the 
various territories and the correspondence between the territorial govern- 
ments and the Interior Department. The latter is of comparatively small 
value, relating for the most part to such matters as the construction of 
buildings, furnishing of libraries, etc. The annual reports of the territorial 
governors are at present printed in the annual reports of the Secretary of 
the Interior. The papers of the following territories are filed here, each 
series ending of course when the territory to which it relates became a 
state: Arizona, Dakota, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, 
Wyoming. 

V. Federal Prison's and Penitentiaries. 

1. Papers relating to the penitentiary and jail in the District of Columbia, 

1821-1878 (15 file-boxes). 
These papers consist of miscellaneous papers, 1849-1878; miscellaneous 
letters, 1821-1862; pardons, 1832-1862; commitments, 1831-1862. 

2. Other federal prisons, 1870-1872 (1 file-box). 

These papers consist of reports on prisoners, letters from convicts, com- 
mutations of sentence, wardens' certificates, etc. 

VI. Miscellaneous. 

1. Buildings. 

There is a considerable collection of correspondence and other papers re- 
lating to the erection of buildings in the District of Columbia; for example, 
Patent Office building, construction and reconstruction, 1849—1882; Capitol 
extension, 1851-1867; public buildings and grounds, 1851-1866; buildings 
occupied by the government, 1840—1852. 

2. Affairs in the District of Columbia (1 file-box). 

These papers relate to schools; the Canal Commission, 1870—1871; tele- 
graphs, 1865-1880; confiscation of property under act of July 17, 1862; etc. 
S. Cuban expedition, 1850—1851 (part of 1 file-box). 

These papers relate to the case of the " Creole " ; they consist of the 
reports of special agents, and of correspondence, and bear upon the prosecu- 
tion and punishment of the leaders of the expedition. 
J/.. Centennial Exposition (7 file-boxes). 

5. Polygamy in Utah, 1879-1887 (1 file-box). 

Petitions to the President in favor of, and opposed to, polygamy in Utah. 

6. Pacific Railway, 1853-1861. 

A volume of letters addressed to the Secretary of War, relating to ex- 
plorations and surveys for the route of the Pacific Railway, with special 
reference to the forty-seventh and forty-ninth parallels. 

7. Miscellaneous letters received, 1881—1895 (76 file-boxes). 



204 Department of the Interior. 

APPOINTMENT DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY. 

The Appointment Division has charge of all business concerning appoint- 
ments, removals, resignations, charges against officials, leaves of absence, 
official bonds, etc. The records consist of correspondence, of papers filed 
with applications for appointments or with charges against officials, and 
of all other papers and letters connected with the work of the division. The 
division was not organized until September. 1861, but its files commence in 
[856, with the exception of the records of presidential appointments, which 
date from 1840. Certain papers have been destroyed as being of no value 
(see S. Doc. 2.80, 58 Cong., 2 sess.). 

The papers connected with each individual case are jacketed together 
and .ire mule accessible by means of a card-index. Much of the ma- 
terial is considered confidential. 



BOARD OF PENSION APPEALS. 

The Board of Pension Appeals considers, and prepares for the regulation 
of the assistant secretary, the decisions in appeals from the action of the 
commissioner of pensions, in pension and bounty land claims. The more 
important of these decisions are printed in " Decisions of the Department 
of the Interior in Appealed Pension and Bounty-Land Claims", 188G- 
( Washington, 1887-). The material in the Secretary's office bearing on 
pension appeals dates from 1849, and consists of letter-books, volumes 
of decisions, etc. A digest of the important parts of this material as well 
as of the printed decisions is brought nearly to date in two separate volumes: 
" Digest of Decisions and Opinions relating to Pensions and Bounty Land ", 
by William L. Chitty and John W. Bixler (Washington, 1897); and 
" Digest of Decisions of the Department of the Interior in Appealed Pen- 
sion and Bounty-Land Claims", by Eugene B. Payne (Washington, 1905). 



INDIAN DIVISION. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY. 

The Indian Division conducts the business in the Secretary's office relat- 
ing to Indian affairs, which consists of: (1) matters relating to Indian 
lands ; such as rights of Indians to lands, intruders and trespassers, cessions, 
reservations, deeds, conveyances, surveys, allotments, leases, contracts, rail- 
way, canal, and irrigation rights, projected legislation, construction of 
treaties and laws, cattle grazing, mining and logging operations, etc.; (2) 
matters relating to Indian moneys; such as construction of treaties on ques- 
tions of annuities, expenditure of annuities, accounts of lands and stocks in 
which Indian trust funds are invested, contracts with Indians for profes- 



Office of Indian Affairs. 205 

sional services in claims, projected legislation regarding Indian annuities, 
etc.; (3) matters relating to the conduct of Indians; such as outbreaks, dis- 
orders, crimes, and depredations, and claims therefor, industrial employ- 
ments, etc.; (4) matters relating to the support of Indians; such as con- 
struction of laws authorizing expenditures for Indian supplies, contracts 
for Indian supplies, and transportation, service of employees, etc.; (5) 
matters relating to Indian education; such as location and construction of 
Indian school buildings, contracts for conducting schools, inspections of 
schools, etc.; (6) inspection of the Indian service; such as instructions to 
inspectors, examination of inspectors' reports, accounts, etc.; (7) miscel- 
laneous matters; such as missions and missionaries, permits to go into the 
Indian country, commissions appointed to negotiate with the Indians, etc. 

The files of the division consist of the correspondence, papers, and records 
relating to the above matters of business; such as correspondence with the 
President and cabinet officers, and with the commissioner of Indian affairs, 
opinions of the Attorney-General, correspondence with the General Land 
Office and other bureaus ; etc. These records should be clearly distinguished 
from those of the Office of Indian Affairs; they relate only to such matters 
as require the attention of the Secretary of the Interior, while the latter 
pertain to the direct administration of Indian affairs exercised by the com- 
missioner. The files of the division are complete since 1849. 



OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 

By the act establishing the War Department in 1789 (1 Stat. L. 49) the 
direct administration of Indian affairs was delegated to the Secretary of 
War, but in 1832 (4 Stat. L. 564) the office of Commissioner of Indian 
Affairs was created, and thereafter all business relating to the Indians was 
conducted by the commissioner under the supervision of the Secretary of 
War, until in 1849, when the Interior Department was created, the Office 
of Indian Affairs was transferred to the new department (9 Stat. L. 395). 
The various matters of business conducted by the Office of Indian Affairs 
are sufficiently indicated in the account of the duties of the Indian Division 
of the Secretary's office. The files of the office do not, so far as is shown 
by the examination for this report, antedate 1800: papers between 1800 
and 1832 are rare; those between 1832 and 1849 are numerous; while those 
from 1849 to date are practically complete, with the exception of such as 
have been destroyed as valueless (see S. Doc. 236, 58 Cong., 2 sess.). A 
great many of the more important papers will be found printed in the 
annual reports of the commissioner of Indian affairs, which contain yearly 
summaries of the relations with the Indians; reports of superintendents, 
inspectors, agents, and teachers ; important correspondence ; statistical tables, 



206 



Department of the Interior. 



etc. A very important publication is " Indian Affairs, Laws, and Treaties, 
1778-1902", compiled and edited by Cbarles J. Kappler (2 vols., S. Doc. 
SI 9, 58 Cong., 2 sess.), which contains statutes, executive orders, proclama- 
tions, treaties, ind statistics of tribes. Anotber publication, one volume of 
which has appeared is, "Digest of Decisions relating to Indian Affairs", 
volume Lj Judicial, by Kenneth S. Murchison (Washington, 1901). 

Especial note should be made of the library of this office, which contains 
a collection, in about one hundred volumes, of the congressional documents, 
from 1827 to date, relating to Indian affairs, as well as a valuable index, 
compiled by the librarian. Miss Cook, to works on the Indians. 

Of the six divisions (Finance. Lands, Accounts, Education, Records and 
1 ilea, and Miscellaneous) into which the office is organized, two, Records 
and Files, and Lands, contain important records. The Records and Files 
Division contains, for the most part, the records of the other divisions, which 
are sent here to be filed and indexed. 

1. Papers received from agencies and officials, IS00—1880. 

These files in several hundred boxes consist of the papers received by the 
office from agents or other Indian officials and contain some of the most 
valuable material in the Indian Office. While the larger part of it relates 
to unimportant details, there are here and there papers that throw much 
light on the history of Indian administration. In the early Cherokee files, 
for example, are to be found the instructions of Secretary Dearborn out- 
lining the government's policy toward the Indians, and frequently picturesque 
letters from various Indians are to be met with. In the New Mexico files 
are found many letters from territorial governor Calhoun relating to the 
administration of the territory, the formation of political parties, and other 
similar subjects, while in the series relating to schools is contained the whole 
history of Indian education. 

The papers received prior to 1880 are grouped by agencies or superintend- 
ences and arranged chronologically and alphabetically, but since that year 
the papers have been filed numerically. The following list shows the ar- 
rangement from 1800 to 1880. 



Alaska, 1873, 

Arizona, 1863-1880, 

Blackfeet, 1855-1868, 

Caddo, 1831-1842, 

California, 1849-1880, 

Central Superintendency, 1851-1880, 

Cherokee, 1800-1876, 

Cheyenne, 1871-1880, 

Cheyenne and Arapahoe, 1875-1880, 

Chicago, 1831-1839, 

Chickasaw, 1831-1868, 



Chippewa, 1851-1880, 

Choctaw, 1831-1876, 

Choctaw and Chickasaw, 1801-1830, 

Colorado, 1861-1880, 

Council Bluffs, 1835-1856, 

Creek, 1809-1876, 

Crow Creek, 1871-1876, 

Crow Wing, 1837-1839, 

Dakota, 1861-1880, 

Delaware, 1855-1869, 

Devil's Lake, 1871-1880, 



Office of Indian Affairs. 



207 



Flandreau, 1873-1876, 

Florida, 1826-1850, 

Fort Berthold, 1867-1880, 

Fort Leavenworth, 1831-1851, 

Grand River, 1871-1874, 

Great Nemaha, 1837-1876, 

Green Bay, 1831-1880, 

Idaho, 1863-1880, 

Indiana, 1831-1846, 

Iowa, 1831-1846, 

Kansas, 1863-1875, 

Kickapoo, 1855-1875, 

Kiowa, 1864-1867, 

Kiowa and Commanche, 1878-1880, 

La Pointe, 1831-1880, 

Lower Brule, 1876-1880, 

Mackinaw, 1835-1880, 

Mandan, 1831-1850, 

Miami, 1846-1850, 

Michigan, 1824-1851, 

Minnesota, 1849-1856, 

Montana, 1864-1880, 

Neosho, 1831-1874, 

Nebraska, 1876-1880, 

Nevada, 1861-1880, 

New Mexico, 1851-1880, 

New York, 1840-1880, 

North Carolina, 1876-1880, 

Northern Superintendency, 1851-1876, 

Ohio, 1831-1843, 

Omaha, 1855-1876, 

Oregon, 1842-1880, 

Osage, 1831-1880, 

Osage River, 1831-1872, 

Otoe, 1856-1876, 

Ottawa, 1863-1872, 

Pawnee, 1859-1880, 

Pima, 1859-1861, 

Ponca, 1859-1880, 



Pottawatomie, 1848-1880, 

Prairie du Chien, 1831-1842, 

Quapaw, 1871-1880, 

Raccoon River, 1843-1845, 

Red Cloud, 1871-1880, 

Sac and Fox, 1831-1880, 

Saginaw, 1837-1845, 

St. Louis, 1824-1851, 

St. Peters, 1831-1870, 

Sandy Lake, 1850-1851, 

Santa Fe, 1849-1850, 

Santee, 1871-1876, 

Sault St. Marie, 1836-1852, 

Schools, 1819-1873, 

Seminoles, 1843-1876, 

Shawnee, 1855-1875, 

Sisseton, 1867-1880, 

Southern Superintendency, 1851-1870, 

Spotted Tail, 1875-1880, 

Standing Rock, 1875-1880, 

Stocks, 1836-1873 (Indian trust funds), 

Texas, 1847-1859, 

Turkey River, 1844-1846, 

Union, 1875-1880, 

Upper Arkansas, 1855-1874, 

Upper Missouri, 1831-1874, 

Upper Platte, 1846-1870, 

Utah, 1849-1880, 

Washington, 1853-1880, 

Western Superintendency, 1833-1851, 

Whetstone, 1871-1874, 

White River, 1875, 

Wichita, 1857-1878, 

Winnebago, 1846-1876, 

Wisconsin, 1836-1850, 

Wyandotte, 1843-1872, 

Wyoming, 1869-1880, 

Yankton, 1859-1880. 



2. Miscellaneous papers received, 1801—1880. 

These files contain letters from chiefs to the President or Secretary of 
War, schemes of Friends and others for civilizing the Indians, speeches 
of Indian chiefs and talks by agents, together with much other interesting 
and curious material. There are but 300 papers of earlier date than 1824, 
and but twenty-four file-cases of papers between 1824 and 1880. 

S. Papers received, 1880 to date. 

Since 1880 all papers received have been filed in a single series, in a num- 
erical order. They fill several thousand file-boxes. 



208 Department of the Interior. 

If.. Record books of papers received. 

The records of papers received have been kept in various series as 
follows : 

(a) January, 182't-June, 1817 (33 vols.). 
(6) February, 1880-November, 183G (3 vols.). These relate exclusively 

to emigrations* 
(c) January, 1832-June, 1833 (1 vol.). A weekly report of letters re- 

eei\< <i. 
(</) Letter! registered. A register of letters received; commenced about 

1817 .iikI continued to t he present time. 

5. Letters sent relating to miscellaneous matters. 

Copies of letters sent are preserved In letter-books, in various series. 

(a) November IT, 1800-April 20, 1884 (<» vols.). These letters relate to 

miscellaneous affairs; some texts of treaties are to be found here. 

(b) Bfarefa 18, 1824-January 8, 1880 (200 vols.). Practically a continua- 

tion of the first series. Designated as " general " letter-books. 

(c) January, 1832-April, 18(51 (3 vols.). "Chickasaw letter-books". 

6. Letters sent, dealing with Indian trade relations. 
(a) October 31, 1807-April 11, 1818 (4 vols.). 

(6) July, 1820-April, 1822 (1 vol.). This scries is incomplete; volume 
" D " is the only one extant. 

(c) 1 835-1 83G (1 vol.). This contains both letters sent and letters re- 
ceived, relating chiefly to Cherokee removals. 

7. Letters sent, 1886 to date. 

The letters sent since 188G have been preserved in the press-copy letter- 
books of the various divisions of the Indian Office. 

8. Agents' ledgers, 1808-1822. 

These contain invoices of goods sent on account of the government from 
trading houses to the agents for " Indian factories ". The invoices con- 
tain some valuable information as to the prices of peltries (raccoon, cat, 
fox, beaver, bear, otter, wolf, panther, elk, etc.) at the stations of New 
Orleans, Choctaw, Arkansas, Natchitoches, Fort Osage, St. Louis, Chickasaw 
Bluffs, Fort Wayne, Sandusky, and Fort Madison. 

9. Claims files, 1882 to date. 

These are arranged numerically and indexed by names. They consist 
of invoices and of affidavits and statements made by persons who have sold 
goods to the United States for the Indian agencies. 

10. Report-book, 1888-1885 (&£ vols.). 

11. Unclassified material. 

A large amount of unclassified material is to be found in various parts 
of the Office of Indian Affairs. This includes a large part of the archives 



Bureau of Pensions. 209 

that were transferred from the War Department. A detailed account of 
it is impracticable, but the following notes will suggest its character: 
" reservation letters of Creeks " ; " emigration letters of Creeks " ; " reser- 
vation and emigration letters " of Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Cherokees 
respectively; papers relating to the " Mitchel Affair", the Indian Springs 
treaty, the emigration of the Seminoles; a few Shawnee papers of slight 
importance; journals relating to the settlement of the affairs of the 
Cherokees at the time of their final removal from Georgia ; Cherokee neutral 
lands, west of the Mississippi ; Cherokee bounty-lands ; Cherokee reservation 
lands east of the Mississippi under the treaties of 1817 and 1819; claims 
against the Cherokees; spoliation claims of Cherokees, dating as early as 
1814; Cherokee pension claims; Cherokee difficulties of 1839 growing out 
of factional disputes within the tribe; Cherokee affairs immediately after 
the Civil War, touching on the loyalty of Ross, etc. ; Cherokee school and 
missionary papers, 1825—1826; Cherokee emigration papers, including 
muster rolls, certificates for abandoned improvements, letters from General 
Scott, etc. ; correspondence of Ross and Colonel Montgomery, the Cherokee 
agent; papers of Benjamin F. Curry, including letters from the War De- 
partment, Governor Lumpkin of Georgia, Governor Carroll of Tennessee, 
John Ross, and others. 

BUREAU OF PENSIONS. 

The office of the Commissioner of Pensions was created in the War 
Department in 1833 (4 Stat. L. 622), but became a bureau in the Interior 
Department in 1849. For a brief statement of the legal history of the 
office see " A Digest of the Pension Laws, Decisions, Rulings, Orders, etc.", 
by Frank B. Curtis and William H. Webster (Washington, 1885, pp. 7-10). 
The " Digest of Pension and Bounty-Land Decisions ", by William L. Chitty 
and John W. Bixler (Washington, 1897) contains (introduction, cxxvii— 
cxxxvi) " A Brief History of the Origin and Development of the Pension 
System of the United States ". See also " Bureau of Pensions, its Officers 
and their Duties " (Washington, 1903). The principal work of the bureau 
consists in the examination and adjudication of all claims for pensions 
based on services rendered in all wars of the United States. For the execu- 
tion of this business the bureau is divided into a number of divisions, whose 
duties are as follows: 

The Appointment Division has charge of all papers relating to appoint- 
ments, promotions, pay-rolls, etc., of the employees in the bureau and 
various agencies. 

The Record Division receives all applications for pensions, examines 
them to determine whether they are properly made, makes a record of 
them and of all papers and documents filed with them, gives each claim a 
15 



210 Department of tin- Interior. 

number, jackets it. together with all papers relating to it, and then sends 
it to the proper division for adjudication. Thus, while the original applica- 
tion and the papers connected therewith do not remain in this division, 
there is preserved here a complete record of them. This division also 
collect-- the names and addresses of survivors and keeps such other records 
pertaining to soldiers and applicants for pensions as may be desirable. 
Alter a claim lias In en recorded and jacketed in the Record Division it 
passes t" one of the adjudicating divisions. These arc five in number, and 

divide among them the various kinds of claims. 

The Old War and Navy Division adjudicates all navy claims and all 
army claims based on service prior to March 1, 18(51; i. e., service in the 
Revolutionary War. in the War of 181'2, in the Indian wars, and in the 
Mexican War. 

The Army Division adjudicates claims for service in the regular army 
after March V, 1861; /'. »•., veteran reserve corps, veteran volunteers (Han- 
cock's Corps), United States volunteers (recruits from Confederate regi- 
ments), provost marshals' department, general and staff officers of volunteers, 
Mississippi marine brigade, ram fleet, miscellaneous United States organiza- 
tions and officers, war with Spain, and Philippine and other insurrections. 

The claims based on services in volunteer organizations during the Civil 
War are adjudicated according to locality. Eastern Division: New Eng- 
land, New York. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Michigan. 
Western Division: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, North 
Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, 
Washington. Southern Division: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, 
West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, North Carolina, 
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, 
Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, the territories, and United 
States colored troops. 

When a claim is received in one of these divisions from the Record Divi- 
sion it is placed in what are known as the " pending files " of that division, 
■while all necessary additional information relating to it is being obtained. 
This additional information consists of the military history of the person 
upon whose services the claim is based, which is obtained from the adjutant- 
general's office of the War Department, or from the Navy or the Treasury 
Department; of the record of what physical examinations are made; of 
whatever evidence the records of the Pension Bureau may contain; and of 
additional evidence called for by the division from the claimant or the 
claimant's attorney. When at last the necessary information has been col- 
lected, the claim, together with all the papers relating to it, is placed in the 
" completed files ", from which it is taken in its turn to be examined and 
recommended for admission or rejection. The Board of Review then 



Bureau of Pensions. 211 

passes upon the case, and if it is admitted it is sent to the Certificate Divi- 
sion, where the proper record is made and the certificate is issued. It 
then passes to the " admitted files ", where it remains permanently. The 
admitted files are under the supervision of the chief clerk and the claims are 
filed in two series : " Invalids ", and " Widows, minors, and dependents " 
(it should be noted, however, that all cases adjudicated by the Old War and 
Navy Division are permanently filed in that division: the "admitted files" 
contain the admitted cases adjudicated by the other divisions). If, how- 
ever, the case is rejected by the board of review, it is returned to the 
adjudicating division from which it was submitted, and is filed there. 

The Law Division has charge of all questions of law, including marriage, 
divorce, and guardianship; prepares criminal cases for prosecution; takes 
cognizance of all questions pertaining to attorneys practicing before the 
bureau; attends to new pension laws and private acts of Congress; and 
prepares legal opinions. 

The Medical Division keeps records of all examinations ordered by the 
bureau; keeps on file the record-books returned by the examining surgeons; 
determines the proper rate of pension; and in general supervises the work 
of the examining surgeons. 

The Special-Examination Division takes charge of such claims as are 
referred to it which require special examination in the field, as for example, 
when fraudulent practices are suspected. 

The Finance Division has charge of all appropriations for the payment 
of pensions and of the expenses connected with the pension service, and 
keeps all the accounts, vouchers, records, etc., relating thereto. 

For fuller accounts of the duties of the various divisions and of the 
methods of procedure see " A Treatise on the Practice of the Pension 
Bureau" (Washington, 1898); also the annual reports of the commissioner 
of pensions, especially that for 1905. 

The above somewhat detailed account of the duties and practice of the 
Pension Bureau has been included in this report for the purpose of making 
clear the character of the files of the various divisions. It thus is seen 
that the great mass of the files consists of the claims and the papers relating 
to them, and that they are kept in the five adjudicating divisions, and in 
the " admitted files " under the supervision of the chief clerk. The financial 
accounts are preserved in the Finance Division; the records relating to 
legal questions are filed in the Law Division ; while the Record Division con- 
tains the records of claims (distinguished from the claims papers them- 
selves), the state service records, and the records of army and navy survivors. 

As is evident from the foregoing description, the files have for the most 
part little historical value: the claims-papers and supporting evidence have 
in general only a personal or genealogical interest. It frequently happens, 



212 Department of the Interior. 

however, tliat in support of some claim documents of considerable value are 
filed; especially is tins true of the claims filed in the Old War and Navy 
Division, which contains .ill the files of the bureau antedating 1801. For 
some time it has been the policy of those in charge of this division to segre- 
gate such documents SS appear to be of especial interest, and through the 
courtesy of Mr. Bryant, chief of the division, a list of such documents is 
included in this report and will be found below. It should be understood 
that the ihieuincMts listed are by no means all those of value in the files of 
the division, but only such as have been segregated. Further search would 
doubtless reveal many more, but the great bulk of the files rendered such 
searcb impracticable for the purposes of this report While the files of this 

division, on account of their age, contain probably the most valuable docu- 
ments, nevertheless it is doubtless true that the files of the other adjudicating 
divisions would be found upon thorough investigation to contain many docu- 
ments and pipers of value for military history subsequent to 18(51. Such 
a search at this time and for this report, however, is impossible. 

It is difficult to form an estimate of the bulk of the files of the Pension 
Bureau. In 1905 the "pending files" contained 220,822 cases, and the 
" admitted tiles ", exclusive of Old War and Navy claims, contained 1,703,- 
B88 cases; in other words, the papers and documents connected with all the 
pending claims and with most of the admitted claims weigh approximately 
500 tons. To this amount should be added the files of rejected claims and 
of admitted Old War and Navy claims, of which there are hundreds of 
thousands; the correspondence (in the year 1908—1904 alone the bureau 
received over 810,000 communications and letters, and sent over 1,300,000 
letters of various kinds) ; and various other records and files. Work in this 
bureau by the investigator is practicable only when, as in the Old War and 
Navy Division, valuable documents have already been segregated. 

The files of the bureau include papers and documents from 1775 to date, 
but the larger part of the files do not antedate 18G1. There have been no 
losses except those resulting from the official destruction of books and 
papers regarded as valueless (see S. Doc. 236, 58 Cong., 2 sess.). 

Following is a list of the documents of historical value that have been 
segregated from the regular files of the Old War and Navy Division. They 
consist mostly of orderly books, accounts, diaries, and correspondence. They 
are arranged in the list below by states, and under each state in approxi- 
mately chronological order; the parenthetic numbers indicate the location of 
the various documents in the files. 

New Hampshire. 
1. 1782-1783. Receipt-book of Thomas Blake, paymaster of the First 
New Hampshire; of no apparent value (38). 



Bureau of Pensions. 213 

Massachusetts. 

1. May 12 to August 25, 1775. Orderly-books and roll of Captain William 

Reed's company, Roxbury and Dorchester (62). 

2. July 8 to October 9, 1775. Orderly-book, William Walker, Charles- 

town (44). 

3. August 10, 1775, to January 6, 1776. Two orderly-books of Adjutant 

Jeremiah Niles, headquarters; records of many courts-martial (33 
and 14). 

4. August, 1777. Orderly-book of Colonel Jonathan Eddy, commanding 

at Machias. 1781—1801, memorandum-book, register of marriages, 
etc., of Jonathan Eddy as justice of the peace (29). 

5. July 1 to October 1, 1778. Orderly-book of Thomas Cole, headquarters, 

Boston; return of prisoners taken in York during 1776; return of 
German troops on Winter Hill (63). 

6. September 5, 1775, to August 16, 1778. Two order-books of Caleb 

Boynton, Colonel Thomas Williams's company, Colonel John Pater- 
son's regiment before Boston, 1775, and Colonel Ezra Wood's regi- 
ment at White Plains, 1778; return of Colonel Wood's regiment, July 
25, 1778, also brigade list (rejected file, 1,113). 

7. July 30 to October 15, 1776. Orderly-book of Captain Daniel Warner's 

company, headquarters, New York, Colonel Jonathan Holman's regi- 
ment (17). 

8. July 30 to November 7, 1776. Orderly-book of Lieutenant-Colonel 

James Roberts, Ticonderoga (26). 

9. August 8, 1778, to February 2, 1779. Orderly-book of Adjutant 

Richard Buckmaster, headquarters (39). 

10. 1778—1783. Receipt-book of Lieutenant and Quartermaster William 

Taylor, Second Massachusetts regiment; suggests the character of 
the supplies (49). 

11. July 29, 1779, to July 28, 1780. Returns of Sixth Massachusetts Bat- 

talion, Samuel Frost, lieutenant and adjutant; lists of field-officers 
and captains of the Massachusetts line, July, 1775, to July, 1779 
(20). 

12. August 1, 1781. Diagram showing disposition of American and French 

forces under Washington, Howe and Rochambeau (widows' file, 
1897). 

13. 1780-1782. Book of Quartermaster Joshua Clapp, Eighth Massa- 

chusetts; returns of army stores, etc., giving names of captains (35). 

14. 1781—1783. Official correspondence relating to minor operations about 

Dobbs Ferry, addressed to Captain John Pray, First Massachusetts 
Regiment, who commanded the water guard; also articles of capitula- 
tion agreed upon at the surrender of Fort Ames, October 10, 1780 
(widows' file 16,378). 



214 Depart mint of the Interior. 

15. June, 1783. Portion of a journal of Captain Henry Sewall, Colonel 

Sprout's Second Massachusetts Regiment, covering service on Major- 
General Heath's Btaff as aide-de-camp, during the process of army 
disbandinrnt (widows' file, 1 8!>7 ). 

16. 1780-1 "St. Account of articles of clothing allowed Captain E. Smith's 

company. Thirteenth Massachusetts, containing rolls of members of 
company; copy of a petition of the Massachusetts line to Congress 
regarding army arrears ( l. r »). 

17. January 10 to April 8, 1782. Orderly-book of Lieutenant and Adjutant 

1 rim is In Its, Eighth Massachusetts, in garrison, Boston Highlands 
(Sfl 

18. 1 80 1 — 1 8 1 5. Company -hook, First Regiment, Second Brigade, Fal- 

mouth. Robert Anderson, Samuel Richards, and Frederic Merrill, 
clerks of company; contains rolls, orders, records, etc., of the Fal- 
mouth company (23). 

19. 1810-1827. Orderly-book for the first company of infantry in the 

town of Buckstown. Massachusetts, including lists. 

20. 1811—1820. Roll and orderly-book of Captain Amos Pratt's company 

of Whately; mostly orders while encamped at South Boston, Sep- 
temper 15 to October 28, 1814, as a part of General Maltby's bri- 
gade; rolls and records as a militia company, ending May 20, 1820 
(10). 

21. Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Lee, and John Adams to Captain Benjamin 

Gunnison of the Morris, directing the delivery of his cargo to John 
Daniel Schwcighauser of Nantes, and putting Gunnison under orders 
of Schwcighauser (survivors' file 12,282). 

Rhode Island. 

1. October 2 to October 27, 1777. Orderly-book of Major-General Joseph 

Spencer, and correspondence between Brigadier-Major Joseph 
Palmer and General Spencer, Tiverton ; letters concerning the 
Burgoyne campaign; return of Colonel Theophilus Cotton's regiment 
at Tiverton (64). 

2. 1779-1780. Orderly-book of Nicholas Alger, Colonel Topham's regi- 

ment, April 12 to November 26, 1779, and weekly returns of the first 
company, July, 1779, to January, 1780 (51). 

3. April 12, 1779, to March 2, 1780. Orders, daily instructions, court- 

martial proceedings, and general diary, Lieutenant James Miller, 
Colonel Topham's regiment (1). 

4. July 12 to September 23, 1779. Little Compton. Orderly-book of 

Lieutenant and Adjutant James Miller, Colonel John Topham's 
Regiment. Returns of the regiment, names of certain captains, 



Bureau of Pensions. 215 

number of officers and men in nine companies, note of union of 
Crary's and Topham's regiments (survivors' file, 11,089). 
5. October, 1785. Names of officers and soldiers commanded by Colonels 
Robert Elliott, John Topham, and Archibald Crary, with balances 
of depreciation reported by a committee to be due (37). 

Connecticut. 

1. June 3, 1775, to October 7, 1775. Orderly-book of Colonel David 

Waterbury's regiment, kept on a march from Stamford, Connecticut, 
to Ticonderoga, and back; includes lists of the several companies 
(21). 

2. July 31, 1775, to October 22, 1775. Journal of Captain Joseph Smith's 

company, Colonel David Waterbury's regiment, around Ticonderoga; 
regimental and general orders; muster-roll of the company, May 1, 
1775 ; copy of a letter from General Montgomery to General Carleton, 
demanding the latter's surrender, December 6, 1776; private and 
army accounts; list of returned soldiers, September, 1775 (10). 

3. August 5, 1775, to December 13, 1775. Diary of Lieutenant Jabez 

Fitch, jr., Captain Jewett's company, Colonel Huntington's regiment, 
full of detail and human interest (55). 

4. September 7, 1775, to November 2, 1777. Ephraim Squier's diary of 

march in Arnold's expedition to Quebec, September 7 to November 
25, 1775, and in the Burgoyne campaign, September 4 to November 
2, 1777 (rejected file, 10,026). 

5. August 16 to September 25, 1776. Orderly-book of Captain Robert 

Brown; interesting details, routine orders, etc.; soldiers' accounts, 
May to July, 1777; no engagements (30). 

6. 1776-1782. Account-book of Captain Edward Rogers of Colonel 

Gay's regiment; a very confused record; contains list of the company. 

7. April 10, 1776, to January 20, 1777. Personal account-book of Colonel 

David Waterbury, showing accounts between himself and members 
of his regiment, as well as an account of the military equipment 
supplied to his men, with a history of his service, written by his 
son (4). 

8. July 15 to October 12, 1776. Orderly-book of Ebenezer Adams, Cap- 

tain Grosvenor's company, Colonel Durkee's regiment, at New York 
and Fort Constitution; list of company; about fifty pages (46). 

9. September 11 to December 5, 1776. Diary of Nehemiah Gallup, of 

Connecticut, Captain John Morgan's company, containing account 
of march from Groton, Connecticut, to White Plains ; list of deserters 
(invalid file, 13,110). 
10. 1777. Nehemiah Wadsworth's accounts with teamsters employed by 
him; lists of company teamsters (48). 



216 Depart me nt of the Interior. 

11. 1777, 1778. List of soldiers in Captain Shipman's company, 1777, and 

list of soldiers and part of an orderly-book (September, 1778) of 
Captain Josiali Baldwin's company operating in Rbode Island and 
Connecticut (invalid file, 16*848). 

12. 177S-1780. Accounts of Julius Deming, purcbasing commissary, with 

Henry Champion (IS). 

13. August 15 to September 24, 1780. Sergeant Benjamin Carson's or- 

derly-book | 

New York-. 

1. 1775-1 777. Major-General Schuyler's ledger, 1775-1777, and account- 

book. April 30 to August 13, 1777 (G8 and 12). 

2. November S. 177.'>. to February 20, 1770. Orders, instructions, and 

general diary showing daily paroles, countersigns, etc., of Arnold's 
expedition to Canada (2). 

3. 1775. Order-book of Lieutenant Benjamin Evans, Second New York, 

begun December, 1 7 7 .*> ; very interesting (24,131). 

4. May 14 to June 24, 177<;. Captain Hyatt's orderly-book, routine or- 

ders, courts-martial (40). 

5. August 17 to October 5, 1770. Orderly-book, headquarters, King's 

Bridge, New fork; interesting record of orders and courts-martial, 
measures of army discipline, preparations for attack, etc.; no im- 
portant engagements (15). 
0. 1777. Receipt-book of Lieutenant-Colonel Gilbert Cooper; also con- 
tains statements of allegiance to the states, with subscriptions thereto 
(53a); orderly-book, 1770 (53b). 

7. September 24, 1778, to July 9, 1779. Orderly-book, headquarters, West 

Point and vicinity, New York, Danbury, Hartford, Peekskill, and 
Middlcbrook; complete and valuable; field returns of the Eighth 
Massachusetts regiment (31). 

8. April 27 to October 17, 1779. Orderly-book of Captain James Gregg; 

a confused and irregular orderly-book, but of some value; list of 
deserters (47). 

9. 1781. Receipt-book of Ebenezer Mott, quartermaster of Colonel 

Weisenfel's regiment (58). 

10. 1782-1784. Receipt-book, regimental orders, etc., of Lieutenant and 

Quartermaster Lawrence Tremper, Colonel Willet's regiment, roll 
of Captain Jonathan Pearsee's company; and personal diary for 
March 23, 1783, to December 12, 1784 (50, 61, and 19). 

11. Gaine's New York Pocket Almanack, for the year 1787, contains annota- 

tions by Nathaniel Fitch, Connecticut (widows' file, 23,035). 

12. 1788-1818. Day-book of Eli Wood, Fradikburgh, Dutchess County, 

New York, and a portion of the family record (66). 



Bureau of Pensions. 217 

New Jersey. 

1. July, 1776. Orderly-book and account-book of William Walton, Cap- 

tain Henderson's company, headquarters, Long Island, 1776; Gen- 
eral Greene's orders, July 10—18, 1776; accounts, apparently private, 
1776-1808 (42). 

2. May 29 to August 4, 1779. Journal including two lists of men, kept 

by Michael Errickson, Captain John Burrowe's company, Colonel 
Oliver Spencer's regiment, Fourth New Jersey Infantry (widows' file, 
16,253). 

3. 1776. Roll and accounts of Captain Samuel Potter's company, Colonel 

E. Drayton's regiment; also personal accounts to 1813 (7). 

Pennsylvania. 

1. August, 1776, to September, 1777. Account-book of Captain John 

Soder, with officers and soldiers; no detailed items (54). 

2. 1776, 1777. Printed sheet, " Particulars of the Rations allowed for the 

Flying Camp ", Pennsylvania, and an oath of allegiance certificate, 
Pennsylvania, James Black (invalid file, 2,077). 

3. November 18, 1777, to May 10, 1778. Letter-book of Major James 

A. Wilson, commandant of garrison at Carlisle, containing 34 letters 
of members of Board of War, officers, and others, relating to public 
business, supplies, recruits, deserters, etc. Private accounts from 
1783 to 1785; docket of cases, January, 1779, to July, 1782 (57). 

4. August, 1780. Receipt-book of William Wilson, quartermaster, First 

Battalion, Philadelphia County militia, Colonel George Smith 
(invalid file, 6,423). 

5. 1777-1811. Receipt-book of Captain John Witman, Reading, Penn- 

sylvania; lists of German soldiers (59). 

6. April 27, 1779, to October 27, 1782. Receipt-book of John Weitzel, 

assistant commissary, Northumberland County. The file contains 
also many papers and letters, including receipts for scalp money 
(widows' file, 3,819). 

7. 1779—1782. Quartermasters' records, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, memor- 

andum books of William Bawsman, and records of team service (6, 
60 and 43). 

8. July 7 to November 23, 1780. Three orderly-books of the Tenth Penn- 

sylvania, under Wayne; containing marching orders, records of 
courts-martial, etc. ; no engagements recorded ; details of daily camp 
life (9, 18, and 22). 

9. July 24 to August 23, 1780. Orderly-book of James McLean, lieutenant 

and adjutant, Tenth Pennsylvania, under Wayne; roster of the 
officers of the Tenth Pennsylvania; 160 pages (25). 
10. 1781-1808. Docket of John Buyers, justice of peace, Sunbury, Penn- 



218 Department of the Interior. 

sylvania, 1781-1802; 271 pages; list of marriages, 1791-1808; 
naturalizations, etc.; part of several company muster-rolls, with ac- 
counts (07). 

11. 178,'. Personal account and orderly-book of Captain Mark Hardin, 

captain of pack-horses; contains sonic genealogical data, but other- 
\\ im' of DO \ due (8). 

12. July 7 to August 3, 1783. Diary by Captain George McCully of trip 

with General Bphraim Douglas, as bearer of the news of the restora- 
tion of peace, to the military posts on the northwestern frontier; 
largely descriptive of travel with good account of reception by 
Dclawarcs and Wyandottea; ends a mile and a half before reaching 
Detroit (widows' file, T.m). 
IS. Poor Will's Pocket Almanack for 1783. Property of Charles Lukens. 
Has a diary for 1783, including an account of an earthquake (widows' 
file, 7,411). 

Virginia. 

1. 1776—1782. Rolls of Captain John Morton's company, Fourth Virginia, 

June 28 to August 28, 1770, soldiers' accounts, and accounts of pro- 
\isions gathered in Prince Edward County, 1780-1782 (11). 

2. May 21, 1777, to May 11, 1778. Orderly-book, and clothing and other 

accounts with members of company of Captain John Brown, Virginia; 
in camp at Georgetown, Trenton, White Marsh, Germantown, Phila- 
delphia, and Valley Forge; a list of men dying at Valley Forge in 
Brown's company; private accounts, warrants as justice of the peace, 
etc., 1782-1799 (52). 

3. October 17 to December 8, 1778. Account-book and orderly-books of 

Robert McCrcady, of Pennsylvania, Colonel John Stevenson's regi- 
ment, Virginia and Maryland Rifle Corps; interesting details of camp 
life at Fort Mcintosh; return of troops, October 30, 1778; records 
as justice of peace, 1810 (24 and 25). Also journal of eleven pages 
of the Mcintosh expedition, November, 1778, with transcript from 
surveyor's field notes showing places of encampment and distances 
from Fort Mcintosh (invalid file, 5,747). 

4. 1779. Account-book of James Hunt, of no apparent value (28). 

5. March 4 to April 10, 1781. Orderly-book of Adjutant John Piper, of 

the first regiment of the Prince W 7 illiam and Fairfax militia, at 
Williamsburg, Virginia; used as account-book, 1781—1792 (32). 

6. 1812-1821. An account of the military proceedings in the county of 

Kanawha, kept by Colonel John Starke, Henry White, and Matthew 
Dunbar; records of proceedings at meetings of militia, and records 
of musters, fines for non-attendance, etc. (65). 



General Land Office. 219 

North Carolina. 

1. Private journal of Captain Abraham Philips, during the Revolutionary- 

War (rejected file, 8,184). 

2. Guilford Dudley's declaration narrating Greene's campaign in North 

Carolina (widows' file, 8,681). 

3. 1801—1807. " Journal of occurrences "; some forty-five pages of frag- 

mentary records of dealings with the Indians, especially with the 
Creeks and Cherokees. Of no value (41). 

South Carolina. 
1. Interesting narrative by Captain Denis Tramell of his services in the 
partizan warfare in South Carolina, including the battle of Cowpens 
(rejected file, 10,672). 

Miscellaneous. 

1. May, 1775. Josiah Dunn, Vermont volunteers, Captain Samuel Wright, 

describes the dispute between Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen as 
to command (invalid file, 23,207). 

2. 1776. James Little (Connecticut), account of the treatment of 

prisoners who surrendered at Fort Washington on November 16, 
1776, including experiences of a prisoner at North Chapel, New 
York and on the prison ship " Grosvenor " (widows' file, 8,256). 

3. 1781. Extract from general orders announcing surrender of Corn- 

wallis and orders for celebration of victory, Henry Denison (widows' 
file, 15,890). 

4. 1781. Proposals for an exchange of prisoners and a list of American 

prisoners (one small volume) ; the list gives the name, rank, date of 
commission, corps, date and place of capture of the prisoners to be 
exchanged (rejected file, 3,020). 

5. 1780. Returns of provisions and stores, magazine store, Danbury, 

Connecticut, by Samuel H. Phillips, assistant commissary of issues, 
February, March, April, and May (invalid file, 17,018). 

6. 1781. Samuel Mills of New Hampshire, serving in Massachusetts 

Artillery Company, Captain Thomas Patten; account of Cornwallis's 
surrender (invalid file, 18,977). 

7. A list of the officers and men on the United States frigate " Adams " for 

the year 1800. This ship was in the war with France and captured 
several French privateers. Kept by Francis H. Ellison, lieutenant 
(3). 

GENERAL LAND OFFICE. 

The General Land Office as a distinct bureau was created in the Treasury 
Department in 1812 (2 Stat. L. 716). Its duties, prior to that time, had 
been performed by the various departments, especially by the Treasury and 



220 Department of the Interior. 

War Departments (1 Stat L. 50, 66j W7j i ibid., 75, 282). In 1849 the 
office was transferred to the Interior Department. The General Land 
Office tr.-ms tcts or supervises all tin- business relating to the survey, disposi- 
tion, and patenting of the public lands, and holds the records of title to all 
the public domain. At present it is divided into thirteen divisions for the 
transaction of its business. For a history of the office and of the administra- 
tion of the public lands reference is made to "The Public Domain", by 
Thomas Donaldson (H. Ex. Doc. 47, 4»'> Cong., 3 sess., part 4, especially 
chapter vi). The duties of the various divisions are fully described in the 
annual reports of the commissioner of the General Land Office. Much 
material is also to be found in the " Report of the Public Lands Commis- 
sion ", especially the appendix (Washington, 1005, printed as S. Doc. 189, 
58 Cong., 3 sess.). 

In general the records and files of the Land Office are of great importance, 
constituting, as they have been said to, the " Domesday Book of the Public 
Domain of the United States ". They are considered more fully below un- 
der the various divisions of the office. The office has no files, so far as shown 
by this investigation, prior to 1792, and in the fire of 1814 the military 
warrants that had been located and patented, and the final certificates and 
other papers relating to purchased lands that had been patented, were burned 
(" American State Papers, Miscellaneous ", II. 248). Certain papers have 
also been destroyed as useless (S. Doc. 203, 58 Cong., 2 sess.; H. Doc. 255, 
58 Cong., 3 sess.; H. Doc. 350, 58 Cong., 3 sess.). A great deal of material, 
especially the correspondence of the Secretary of the Treasury prior to 1849, 
relating to public lands, is filed in the Division of Mail and Files of the 
Office of the Secretary of the Treasury. As a whole the records of the 
General Land Office are remarkably complete. The bulk of the files of the 
office is too great to be readily estimated ; a great many rooms and a large 
part of the basement of the old Post-Office building, where the office is 
located, are filled with the records and papers. There is no general file- 
room, each division filing and preserving its own records, a fact which ma- 
terially complicates the work of the investigator. Furthermore, owing to 
lack of space the earlier records are badly crowded and are stored in ex- 
tremely inaccessible places, in the attic, the basement, the passageways, etc. ; 
so that it has been wholly impracticable to prepare anything like an inven- 
tory of the material (see the report of the commissioner of the General Land 
Office for 1904). It is believed, however, that the brief descriptions below 
convey an adequate idea of the material to be found in the office. Some 
of the more important material has been made accessible through the publi- 
cations of the office, for a list of which, to 1881, see S. Ex. Doc. 182, 47 
Cong., 1 sess. In this connection it may be noted that the Spanish archives 
formerly in the offices of the surveyors-general of Florida and Ne>7 Mexico 



General Land Office. 221 

have been removed to the Library of Congress, while those in the office of the 
surveyor-general of California were destroyed in the San Francisco fire of 
April, 1906. 

I. Chief Clerk's Division. "A." 

In the Chief Clerk's Division are kept a docket of all communications 
received and the records of all matters relating to the personnel of the 
General Land Office, such as appointments, resignations, charges of mis- 
conduct, etc. 

II. Recorder's Division. " B." 

The Recorder's Division contains the record of all patents issued, and 
the files of correspondence, certificates, proofs, and other documents upon 
which the patents are based; also the records and files of discontinued divi- 
sions. The records of patents are complete from the earliest times, but the 
files of the original papers are said to have been destroyed by fire in 1814, 
and are incomplete prior to 1836. The earliest of the extant files are not 
readily accessible. 

III. Public Lands Division. " C." 

In the Public Lands Division are preserved the " tract-books ", which 
constitute the greater part of its archives. In these " tract-books " space is 
allowed for each legal subdivision of land established by surveys, which 
has been or is a part of the public domain. In the space there allowed for 
each section of land is noted everything affecting the status of that section, 
such as entries, filings, selections, grants, reservations, cancellations, claims, 
contests, conflicts, etc. In addition to these " tract-books " there are kept 
letter-records, in which are found records of all correspondence relating to 
the duties of the division from 1796 to date. 

IV. Division of Public Surveys. " E." 

The Division of Public Surveys supervises all work relating to the public 
surveys, prepares instructions to the surveyors-general, examines and passes 
upon all contracts for surveying, examines all plats and field-notes of sur- 
veys, and superintends the running of boundaries when done by the General 
Land Office. For a history of the legislation relating to surveys see the 
"Manual of Surveying Instructions" (Washington, 1902), and for the 
reports of the surveyors-general see the annual reports of the commissioner. 

The archives of the division consist mainly of correspondence, and show 
the old methods of surveying, the physical features of the land surveyed, 
and the difficulties and often opposition encountered in making the surveys. 
The correspondence consists of the letters received, kept in file-boxes, and 
of copies of the letters sent, preserved in letter-books; it is arrangd in five 
groups: (1) executive, with cabinet and bureau officers; (2) registers and 



222 Department of the Interior. 

receivers; relating to the actual disposition of the land; (3) surveyors- 
general; (0 examiners, relating to the examination of contract-surveys; (5) 
miscellaneous, The oldest correspondence is contained in a volume of 
letters dated it'.ic.-1816. 

V. Kaii-Road Division. " F." 

The Railroad Division registers entries of lands within railroad, wagon- 
road, mil canal-grant limits, dockets contested entries and applications for 
lands therein, examines and decides such applications and entries, conducts 
all correspondence relating to the disposal of lands within railroad, wagon- 
road, and canal-grant limits, lists, ccrtilics, patents, and adjusts railroad 
and wagon-road Lands, and registers, examines, and recommends for approval 
all articles of incorporation and all maps filed by railroad companies claim- 
ing right of way over public lands under the act of March 3, 1 87/i (18 
Stat. L. 482), and under other acts granting right of way. 

The files of the division arc grouped as follows: (1) Letters sent, relating 
to all matters; important for determining the land policy of the government 
so far as it relates to railroads, canals, and irrigation; (2) letters and papers 
received, relating to cases in dispute between the railroad and the govern- 
ment; | :'• ) litters from railroads, relating to all matters not in dispute con- 
cerning land grants, such as lists of lands sold; (4) letters and papers 
received, relating to canals and irrigation, ditches, reservoirs, etc., except 
those constructed by the government; (5) maps of permanent location filed 
by railroads, showing the exact lines of the respective roads and all the lands 
involved; (C) decisions of the Secretary of the Interior relating to rail- 
roads, canals, etc. There are other kinds of material, but all of real im- 
portance ire included in the foregoing classification. For lists of railroad 
and otlicr grants made, the records relating to which are on file in this divi- 
sion, see the annual report of the commissioner of the General Land Office 
for 190."), under "Railroad Division". 

The Railroad Division was established in 1872 and its records before 
that date are not complete. It has, however, practically all the railroad 
files since 1850, when the first grant was made, while there is material re- 
lating to canals of as early date as 1829, and the Secretary's decisions com- 
mence in 1859. 

VI. Miscellaneous Division. " G." 

The Miscellaneous Division examines, acts upon, and keeps the records of 
all claims to lands arising under the pre-emption, timber-culture, desert- 
land, town-site and cemetery laws, and under grants to the several states 
for educational, charitable, and other purposes. It locates and patents 
claims to lands in territory acquired by the United States by cession, when 
such claims originated under the former government prior to the cession of 



General Land Office. 223 

the territory, and have since been confirmed by Congress. It also has charge 
of Indian lands and of the examination and patenting of such lands, and 
adjudicates all contests coming before the General Land Office in which pre- 
emption rights, desert-land claims, timber-culture claims, town-site questions, 
or Indian claims are involved. Finally it examines the proofs of Alaskan 
entries. Of special value among the records of this division should be the 
decisions, of which there are a great many each year. The earliest patent 
recorded in the division is dated March 3, 1792. 

VII. Contest Division. " H." 

The Contest Division disposes of controversies arising between individuals 
where rights under the homestead, timber, and stone laws, and locations of 
land-scrip under various acts of Congress are involved. The principal 
records of the division consist of correspondence, decisions, and the testi- 
mony, pleadings, and arguments relating to the various cases of contest 
coming before the division. 

VIII. Swamp-Land Division. " K." 

The Swamp-Land Division examines and records the lists of lands 
selected and reported as inuring to certain states under the acts of Congress 
granting swamp and overflowed lands to public lands states (see 9 Stat. L. 
352, 519; 10 id., 634; 11 id., 251; 12 id., 3; 14 id., 218; 17 id., 37, 404; 18 
id., 282; 19 id., 268, 395; 21 id., 171); issues and records patents for those 
lands; and records, indexes, and files the correspondence, decisions, papers, 
and other records relating to claims arising under the acts cited above. 

IX. Drafting Division. "L." 

The Drafting Division performs all the drafting required by the Gen- 
eral Land Office and is the custodian of all the official field-notes of surveys 
of the public domain and of the originals and photolithographic copies of 
maps and plats relating thereto, together with 408 volumes of mineral plats 
and several thousand segregation mineral plats and diagrams. 

X. Division of Accounts. " M." 

The Division of Accounts contains the records of all the receipts and 
disbursements of money by the General Land Office. The principal classes 
of accounts are as follows: (1) Receipts; quarterly accounts of receivers of 
public moneys (sales of public and Indian lands), quarterly accounts of 
receivers of public moneys (unearned fees and unofficial moneys), accounts 
of moneys collected on account of depredations on public timber, accounts 
of moneys collected on account of sales of public timber (acts of March 3, 



224 Department of the Interior. 

185)1, and June 4, 18!>7), accounts of moneys received from sales of govern- 
ment property (old furniture, etc.), accounts of moneys received by town- 
site boards, accounts of moneys deposited by individuals to cover tbe cost 
of office work in connection with the survey of mining claims, accounts of 
receiving clerk, General Land Office, for moneys received from certified 
copies and transcripts of records. (2) Disbursements: quarterly accounts 
of re c e iver s of public moneys as special disbursing agents, quarterly accounts 
of receivers of public moneys (unearned fees and unofficial moneys), quar- 
terly accounts of sur\ ivors general as disbursing agents, state-fund accounts, 
repayment accounts for lands erroneously sold, accounts of deputy-surveyors, 
accounts of town site boards, miscellaneous accounts (special agents, in- 
spectors, forest superintendents, supervisors, and rangers), and contingent, 
transportation, and other accounts. 

The surveying contracts are also kept In this division. Many kinds of 
work ire performed by the division that cannot be conveniently tabulated. 
Of such may be noted tin preparation of estimates for all annual and 
special appropriations for the land service, the tabulation of numerous state- 
ments relating to public lands and to their survey and disposal under the 
various acts of Congress, the investigation of claims before the Court of 
Claims, the preparation of reports on bills pending before Congress, the 
receipt, examination, recording, and distribution to other divisions of regis- 
ters' returns, and the compilation of statistics for the annual report. 

The correspondence of this division is very voluminous, amounting in 
the year ending June SO, 1905, to over 50,000 letters received and sent. 
The letters are filed according to a fourfold classification: (1) registers' 
and re rivers' letters; (2) BUrveyors'-general letters; (3) departmental 
letters; (4) miscellaneous letters. 

XI. Mineral Division. " N." 

The Mineral Division has charge of the following matters: (1) mineral 
and coal entries; (2) all contests and quasi-contests in which the character, 
whether agricultural, mineral, or saline, of the public land is involved; (3) 
agricultural filings and entries in which a question as to the character of the 
land is involved; (4) railroad, state, and forest lieu selections referred to 
this division for examination as to the character of the land selected and 
the proximity of such selections to mineral lands; (5) petitions for suit by 
the United States to set aside patents on mining and coal claims and on 
all mineral and coal lands that are alleged to have been erroneously or 
fraudulently patented as agricultural lands; (6) certified copies of papers, 
plats, and records relating to mineral lands or coal lands; (7) relinquishment 
and amendments of entries or filings in which the character of the land is 
in question; (8) correspondence and instructions to registers and receivers 



Patent Office. 225 

and United States surveyors-general in all matters relating to the disposal 
of mineral and coal lands; (9) the preparation, recording, and transmitting 
of all mineral and coal patents; (10) the work of the mineral land com- 
missioners appointed under the acts of February 26, 1895, and June 6, 1900, 
to classify the granted lands within the limits of the Northern Pacific Rail- 
road Company's grants in the mineral districts of Bozeman, Helena, and 
Missoula, in Montana, and in Coeur d'Alene, in Idaho; (11) examination of 
bonds of United States mineral surveyors. 

XII. Special Service Division. "P." 

The Special Service Division investigates fraudulent entries and receives 
and investigates complaints of depredations upon public timber. Its records 
consist mainly of correspondence and reports of its agents on cases under 
investigation. 

PATENT OFFICE. 

Although provision for the granting of patents was made as early as 1790 
(1 Stat. L. 109, 318), the Patent Office was not established by law until 
1836, when it was made an office in the Department of State, and a commis- 
sioner of patents was appointed as its head (5 Stat. L. 117). In 1849 it 
was transferred to the Interior Department. For a brief history of the 
patent system in the United States see the annual report of the commissioner 
of patents for 1900 (pp. viii— xii). 

The archives of the Patent Office are practically complete from 1836 and 
consist of the models, books, records, drawings, specifications, correspond- 
ence, etc., relating to the granting of patents. The files of most value are 
the applications for patents and the accompanying papers. With each ap- 
plication are placed the correspondence and other papers relating to it, 
and the whole is then filed according to a numerical system, so that all the 
papers bearing on any one case can be readily found. 

In the fire of December 15, 1836, everything in the Patent Office, both 
records and models, was destroyed (H. Rept. 134, p. 38, 24 Cong., 2 sess.). 
Some of the records and most of the models were restored, however, so 
that there is scattering material consisting of ledger volumes of fair copies 
of papers and correspondence, dating from as early as 1790. On September 
24, 1877, another fire destroyed 87,000 models, 40,000 sets of photographic 
copies of drawings, and 30 patented drawings, but no books or original 
records and files in patented cases were lost (H. Ex. Doc. 2, 45 Cong., 1 
sess.). The material lost in this fire has been partially restored. For 
a list of papers and files destroyed by authority of Congress as being of no 
value see S. Doc. 236, 58 Cong., 2 sess. 
16 



226 



Department of the Interior. 



The important material in the Patent Office is rendered accessible through 
various publications. A "Subject-Matter Index of Patents for Inventions 
issued by the United States Patent Office, 1790-1873 " (4 vols., Washington, 
1871) furnishes a guide to the files of applications and other papers from 
the earliest times. Prior to 183(5 the Secretary of State reported annual 
lists of patentees and patents, which may be found in the congressional 
documents. From lS.'itl 1 s . : 7 to 1812 the commissioner of patents made 
similar reports to Congress, and from 1813 to 1852 the claims of the 
patents granted Mere included, while from 1853 to 1870 drawings and brief 
abstracts were added. From 1872 the "Official Gazette of the United 
States Patent Office" has been published weekly; this contains lists of 
patents and patentees, drawings, descriptions, and claims, and the decisions 
of the commissioner. Commencing with May SO, 1871, the "Specifications 
and Drawings of Patents" have been published, and deposited in various 
libraries throughout the country. The decisions of the commissioner have 
been published since 1809: "Decisions of the Commissioner of Patents and 
of the United States Courts in Patent and Trade-Mark Cases " (Washing- 
ton, 1809-). A list of the publications of the office to 1881 is contained 
in S. Ex. Doc. 182, 47 Cong., 1 sess. 

Mention should be made of the library of the Patent Office, which is 
well equipped with works on mechanical inventions, and has very complete 
files of the patent reports and publications of various countries. 



BUREAU OF EDUCATION. 

In 1807 an independent Department of Education was established (14 
Stat. L. 131), but the following year it was made a bureau in the Interior 
Department (15 Stat. L. 100). The duties of the bureau comprise the 
collection of such statistics and facts as shall show the progress of education 
in the United States, the diffusion of information relating to school organ- 
ization and methods of teaching, the supervision of education in Alaska, 
and the administration of the endowment fund for the support of agricul- 
tural and mechanic arts colleges. For a full account of the establishment 
and purpose of the bureau attention is called to " Answers to Inquiries about 
the U. S. Bureau of Education, its Work and History ", by Charles Warren, 
M.D. (Washington, 1883). The "Annual Statement of the Commissioner 
of Education to the Secretary of the Interior " for 1902 shows the organiza- 
tion of the bureau and the work of each division. The publications of the 
bureau are both numerous and important; a list of them is to be found in 
the annual report of the commissioner for 1900-1901 (volume I., pp. ciii- 
cxii) . 

From the character of the duties of this bureau it follows that it has prac- 



Office of the Geological Survey. 227 

tically no unpublished files or records, apart from its purely administrative 
correspondence, accounts, and records. 

The original unpublished material collected by the bureau, from which 
its statistical tables and other published information are derived, consists 
of the various reports made to it on prepared forms. These reports repre- 
sent about ninety per cent, of the state and city school-systems, secondary 
schools, both public and private, normal schools, universities and colleges, 
women's colleges professional schools, colored schools, and schools for the 
defective and delinquent classes; they represent all the agricultural and 
mechanic arts colleges, which are required by law to make reports to the 
bureau. These reports are preserved for five years and then destroyed. 
The Alaskan reports constitute a class by themselves; a monthly report on 
a fixed form, and an annual report, the form of which is left to the indi- 
vidual, are made by each teacher; and all of these reports, since their intro- 
duction in 1885, are preserved in the bureau. 

The most valuable printed material collected by the bureau is composed 
of educational catalogues, reports, statistics, and other publications of 
states, cities, towns, private institutions, foreign countries, etc. This collec- 
tion is nearly complete for the United States since 1867, although some 
documents of an earlier date are to be found, and includes the more im- 
portant of the foreign publications. For educational statistics or history 
it is evident that such a collection is of the highest value. A second class 
of published material comprises educational periodicals. Of these the bureau 
has a very large collection, which is practically complete for the United 
States and which includes the most important foreign publications, especially 
those of France and Germany. Finally the bureau possesses two extensive 
collections of books, one on pedagogy, the other on penology and criminology. 

All the material of the bureau is rendered easily accessible by means of 
its arrangement and an excellent card-catalogue, which includes references 
to important articles in periodicals. The collections of the bureau are at 
the service of all interested in education and are much used by such persons, 
either through requests for information or through personal investigation. 

OFFICE OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 

The office of the Geological Survey as a distinct bureau in the Interior 
Department was established in 1879 (20 Stat. L., 394), but geological and 
geographical surveys of various parts of the country had been conducted 
since the Lewis and Clark expedition. An excellent brief account of these 
earlier surveys and of the establishment of the office of the Geological 
Survey, under the first director, Clarence King, with especial reference to 
the legislation on the subject, is to be found in H. Rept. 1285, 49 Cong., 
1 sess., which is based on testimony by director J. W. Powell printed in S. 



228 



Department of the Interior. 



Misc. Doc. 82, 19 Cong., 1 s< gs. ; while .in article entitled " The United States 
Geological Survey ". by the former director, C. D. Walcott, in the " Popular 
Science Monthly *' for February, 1895, gives an account of the work of the 
survey to that date. Daring the last decade the bureau has grown notably; 
a good account of its origin, development, organization, and operations 
wis published in 1904 as Survey Bulletin 227 (H. Doc. 079, 58 Cong., 2 
A complete list of and a general index to its publications to June, 
1908, by P. C. Winn.in, are to be found in Survey Bulletin 177 (H. Doc. 
"•''. Cong., 8 m-ss.) and its supplement, Bulletin 215 (H. Doc. 471, 57 
Cong., i sess.). For lists of the publications of the Geological and Geo- 
grapbical Survey of the Territories (Hayden), which preceded the present 
Geological Survey, see S. Ex. Doc. 182, 47 Cong., 1 sess. ; and for a com- 
plete list of and a general index to the publications of the earlier surveys — 
Hayden, King, Powell, Wheeler— by L. F. Schmeckebier, see Survey Bul- 
letin 228 (II. Doe. 806, 68 Cong., 2 sess.). For papers destroyed as value- 
less see H. Doc. 273, 50 Cong., 2 sess.; and H. Doc. 415, 57 Cong., 1 sess. 

The files of the survey, consisting mainly of correspondence and adminis- 
tratis' records, are kept in the Section of Correspondence and Records, 
Supplies, and Shipments. The survey is essentially a publishing bureau 
and has little of historical value that has not been printed. 

The survey has a large library. About 1,300 periodicals and proceedings 
of scientific societies are received annually. There have been a few gifts, 
the most notable being that of the collection of state geological survey re- 
ports donated by .Major J. W. Powell, that of about a thousand volumes 
of scientific serials, transactions of scientific societies, and monographs col- 
lected by the late Dr. P. V. Hayden while in charge of one of the earlier 
geological and geographical surveys and presented to the Geological Survey 
by Mrs. Hayden after her husband's death; and that of 570 books and 
pamphlets, mostly on early American geology, presented in 1889 by Miss 
Frances Lea, of Philadelphia, after the death of her father, Dr. Isaac Lea. 
Several large purchases have been made; in 1882 the geological library of 
Mr. Robert Clarke, of Cincinnati, containing 1,885 volumes and especially 
rich in reports of early state surveys and federal exploring expeditions; in 
1888, part of the library of M. Jules Desnoyers, of Paris, and in 1890, 
0,000 chemical dissertations. For several years Congress has appropriated 
annually the sum of $2,000 for the purchase of periodicals and books. The 
main source, however, of the increase of the library has been exchange, by 
which are acquired the publications of almost every scientific institution, 
private and governmental, engaged in similar lines of research throughout 
the world, as well as those of authors publishing individually. 

There are in the library about 70,000 bound volumes, 80,000 pamphlets 
and 30,000 maps, besides many books that form parts of sets of periodicals 



Office of the Geological Survey. 229 

and of proceedings of societies, museums, and congresses. The Geological 
Survey has a collection of 30,000 negatives which have been taken in con- 
nection with its field work. About 6,000 of these have been selected to 
illustrate certain features of its work or geological and physiographical 
phenomena. Prints of these are mounted in book form and arranged 
according to a subject classification. Forty-one volumes have been ar- 
ranged, containing approximately 2,500 photographs. 



230 Department of Agriculture. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

The Department of Agriculture supervises all public business relating 
to agricultural industry, has advisory supervision over agricultural experi- 
incnt-st itioiis having governmental support, and makes quarantine regula- 
tions for traffic in animals. Among its duties are the preservation, intro- 
duction, propagation, and distribution of animals, seeds, and plants, and the 
diffusion of information on subjects connected with agriculture. 

The work of the Department of Agriculture is of such a character that 
its records and files can hardly be said to possess any value for historical 
purposes. In so far as they consist of reports, monographs, or papers on 
scientific subjects, tiny have been printed, inasmuch as one of the chief pur- 
poses of the department is to diffuse scientific knowledge through its pub- 
lications. A list of these publications has been prepared and can readily 
be procured, so that any further description here of this part of the depart- 
ment's work is unnecessary (see " List by Titles of Publications of the 
United States Department of Agriculture, 1840, to June, 1901 ", compiled 
by EL B. Handy and Minna A. Cannon, Division of Publications, Bulletin 
No. Bj 1 90S), and " List of Publications of the Agriculture Department, 
18G2-1902, with Analytical Index " Department List No. 1 (Washington, 
1904). For a history of the department see C. H. Greathouse's " Historical 
Sketcli of the United States Department of Agriculture " (Division of 
Publications, Bulletin No. 3, 1898). The "Year-Books" of the depart- 
ment contain much information relating to agriculture in the United States, 
and that for 1899 contains valuable summaries of agricultural development. 

The files of the department are wholly administrative; the only ones pos- 
sessing any probable historical interest are the letters and papers comprising 
the correspondence of the Secretary. Here are occasionally to be found 
letters which bear on such subjects as the importation of American food 
products into foreign countries, the construction of the laws relating to 
oleomargarine or to animal diseases, irrigation and other internal improve- 
ments, settlement on the public lands, foreign markets, etc., and which are 
of sufficient importance to be of use to the investigator. The department 
has no files prior to its establishment in 18G3, and the Secretary's corre- 
spondence is complete only from 1872. Since 1894 a card-index to the 
subjects and names in these letters has been kept. 

The Forest Service, established in March, 1901, as a division in the 
Department of the Interior, was transferred to the Department of Agri- 
culture in February, 1905. Its duties relate to the creation and administra- 
tion of forest reserves, and its records consist of correspondence and reports 
of forest officers. See its annual reports. 



Department of Commerce and Labor. 231 



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR. 

The Department of Commerce and Labor was organized on July 1, 1903, 
under the act of February 14, 1903. An account of the beginnings, duties, 
work and scope of the department is contained in the first annual report 
(December 9, 1903) of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, while in the 
volume known as " Organization and Law of the Department of Commerce 
and Labor" (Washington, 1904) is a full history of the origin and organ- 
ization of the department, with accounts of the history of each of the bureaus, 
and of the laws pertaining to them. The records and files of the secretary's 
office are preserved under the supervision of the chief clerk of the depart- 
ment. No examination of them has been made. The " Decisions " of the 
department as well as its " Circulars " are printed. These two series 
commence on July 9, 1903, and July 1, 1903, respectively. 

COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY. 

A coast survey was authorized by Congress in 1807 (2 Stat. L. 413), and 
the history of the Coast and Geodetic Survey is generally regarded as com- 
mencing with that act, although the survey was not fully organized until 
1816. It was at first under the Treasury Department but in 1818 was 
transferred to the Navy Department, in 1832 was again placed under the 
Treasury Department, in 1834 was transferred to the Navy Department, 
and in 1836 retransf erred to the Treasury Department, where it remained 
until the organization of the Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903. 
In 1843 the survey was re-organized and the organization then effected 
became permanent. The legal title of Coast and Geodetic Survey was 
authorized in 1878. The present duties of the survey are to survey the 
coasts and the navigable portions of rivers under the jurisdiction of the 
United States, to take deep-sea soundings, and temperature, current, and 
magnetic observations, to determine heights and geographical positions, etc. 
The results of the surveys are published in various forms; a complete list 
of these publications is to be found in " List and Catalogue of the Publica- 
tions issued by the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1816-1902 ", by E. L. 
Burchard, librarian (Washington, 1902). Brief accounts of the organ- 
ization of the survey, and of legislation relating to it, may be found in H. 
Rept. 1285, 49 Cong., 1 sess., and in "Organization and Law of the De- 
partment of Commerce and Labor ", chapter ix. 

The archives of the survey contain comparatively little of value to the 
investigator that has not been published, with the exception of some un- 



232 Department of Commerce and Labor. 

printed maps and surveys, and the collections of correspondence. The files 
are admirably arranged and indexed, and access to them and to the library 
is readily granted. 

I. CORRESPONDENCE. 

1. Hatiler letters, 1803-1843 (1 vol.). 

These relate to the early history and work of the survey and were col- 
li it, d by Mr. Bnrchard. They are hound in chronological order. 

2. General correspondence. I ,vj J to date (over 2,000 vols.). 

The general character of this correspondence Lb indicated by the various 
titles under which it is bound: " Military .and naval assistants", being the 
correspon d en c e of the bureau \\ith those officers; "Manuscripts of discus- 
sions ". relating to the work of the office; " Miscellaneous and scientific and 
business papers ", correspondence between Treasury. Navy, and War De- 
partments " ; (i\il assistants and primary triangulations " ; "Miscellaneous 
correspondence " j " Private correspondence", relating to requests for em- 
ployment and answers thereto, etc.; "Applications, testimonials, and re- 
plies"; "Correspondence with western coast superintendent's party and 
extra observers (1850)"; "Western coast and light-house correspondence"; 
" Monthly reports and sketches "; " Papers relating to tides "; " Instruction- 
book " ; Military assistants"; "Reports of the superintendent of the coast 
survey (1852-1850)"; "Tides and currents"; "Sailing directions and list 
of harbors " ; " Disbursing agents and business papers ". For the Civil War 
period (1 8(51-1 865) there are seventy-two volumes, of which those entitled 

War and navy assistants " contain many interesting details of the prosecu- 
tion of the war. The correspondence previous to 1844 was probably re- 
t lined by Ilassler and is published to some extent in his memoirs. This 
correspondence is chronologically arranged and indexed on cards. 

II. Technical Manuscripts and Other Collections. 

1. Technical manuscripts, 1817 to date. 

This material relates to surveys, geodetic triangulation, hypsometry, mag- 
netics, tides, and currents. It is arranged by countries in Cutter's geograph- 
ical order and is indexed under place, subject, and date. See the " List and 
Catalogue of the Publications of the Coast and Geodetic Survey " for such 
of these manuscripts as are printed. 

2. Manuscript maps, 1835 to date (many thousand maps). 

The maps prior to 1835 are bound with the correspondence. Many of 
the maps made during war periods are the work of spies and of great value. 
There is in the office of the survey a complete list of all the unpublished 
maps. 



Bureau of Navigation. 233 

S. Special collection of reports on service of the coast-survey officers during 
the Civil War, 1861-1865 (2 vols.). 
Manuscripts relating to surveying in front of the advancing armies; 
arranged chronologically. 

4- Manuscript notes in the library, 1861—1865 {1 vol.). 

" Notes on the Coast of the United States ", by A. D. Bache; compiled 
for the confidential use of the navy during the Civil War and not published. 

5. Newspaper clippings, 184-6 to date (7 vols.). 

This collection of newspaper clippings relates to the work of the survey. 

BUREAU OF NAVIGATION. 

The office of Commissioner of Navigation was established in 1884 (23 
Stat. L. 118). His duties are connected with the supervision of the mer- 
chant marine and seamen of the United States, the issuing and filing of 
marine documents (registers, enrollments, licenses, etc.), the rendering of 
decisions in questions concerning marine documents and the collection and 
refunding of tonnage taxes, the changing of names of vessels, preparing an 
annual list of vessels, receiving the reports of the shipping commissioners, 
etc. Some of these duties were formerly performed in the offices of the 
register of the Treasury and of the Secretary of the Treasury, but the 
records relating to them were transferred to the new office upon its establish- 
ment. The bureau was in the Treasury Department until its transfer to the 
Department of Commerce and Labor, in July, 1903. A history of the 
bureau together with the laws pertaining to it, may be found in " Organiza- 
tion and Law of the Department of Commerce and Labor ", chapter xm. 

The principal classes of records in the office of the Commissioner of Navi- 
gation are papers and documents relating to appeals, requests for instruc- 
tions, decisions, orders, regulations, marine documents, accounts of tonnage, 
abstract of tonnage-tax, annual lists of vessels, statements of vessels built, 
accounts of vessels lost and abandoned, applications for signal letters, re- 
quests for official numbers, and shipping commissioners' accounts. For the 
student of the merchant marine and commerce these records should be of 
great value, but it is probable that the information of most interest is pub- 
lished in the annual reports of the commissioner. 

The oldest records in the office are the marine documents, which date from 
1815 and show the ownership and construction of vessels and the dates and 
places of building. Some papers have been destroyed as valueless (see S. 
Rept. 1048, 53 Cong., 3 sess., and S. Doc. 246, 55 Cong., 2 sess.). The 
files are all so arranged and indexed that any particular paper or the papers 
relating to any particular subj ect can be readily found. 



234 



Department of Commerce and Labor. 
OFFICE OF STEAMBOAT INSPECTION. 



While steamboat inspection has been provided for by law from the earliest 
days of steam-navigation (8 Stat L. »'>'.>»■; 4 id., 12!>; ."> id., 261, 626; B id., 
S80; 10 id., 61), the office of supervising inspector-general of steam-vessels 
was not established until 1871 (18 Stat. L. 158). The administration of 
tlu- early Laws had been part of the duties of the Treasury Department, and 
the office of supervising inspector-general was in that department until its 
transfer, in July, 1808, to the Department of Commerce and Labor. For a 
brief sketeli of the service see " Organization and Law of the Department of 
Commerce and Labor", chapter xi. It is the duty of the inspector-general 
to superintend the administration of the steamboat-inspection laws, and to 
receive and examine the reports and accounts of inspectors. The manu- 
script records of the office date from 1871, and are mainly technical in char- 
acter. They consist of correspondence, expense accounts, and reports of 
virions kinds, such as reports on the life-boat and life-raft equipment of 
passenger-steamers, semi-monthly reports on ferry and passenger-steamers, 
reports of tensile tests, statements of public property received and ex- 
amined, statements of officers' licenses issued, reports of examinations for 
masters, pilots, and mates of ocean-going steamers, reports on changes in the 
character of steamers, on life-preservers examined, of casualties and viola- 
tions of the law, of excursion permits issued, weekly reports of local in- 
spectors, etc. Materia] of possible interest to the student is to be found 
in the annual reports of the supervising inspector-general. For papers 
destroyed as valueless see S. Ex. Doc. 44, 51 Cong., 1 sess. ; S. Doc. 24G, 
55 Cong., 2 sess.; S. Doc. 97, 57 Cong., 1 sess.; and S. Doc. 348, 57 Cong., 
1 sess. 

LIGHT-HOUSE BOARD. 

The Light-House Board was established in 1852 (10 Stat L. 119); prior 
to that time the superintendence of light-houses had devolved upon various 
officers of the Treasury Department, where is to be found correspondence 
relating to the service (see above under Mail and Files Division, Treasury 
Department). In chapter m. of "The Modern Light-House Service" by 
A. B. Johnson (Washington, 1890) and in "Organization and Law of the 
Department of Commerce and Labor ", chapter vm., are historical sketches 
of the light-house establishment, while a large amount of documentary ma- 
terial, such as correspondence, reports, minutes, etc., is to be found in 
" Compilation of Public Documents and Extracts from Reports and Papers, 
relating to Light-houses, Light-vessels, and Illuminating Apparatus, and 
to Beacons, Buoys and Fog Signals" (Washington, 1871). The follow- 
ing statement respecting the records of the service has been furnished 
through the courtesy of the light-house board: 



Bureau of Labor. 235 

1. The records of the colonial period from the earliest times to about 1789 have 
never been collected. Evidence exists to show that they will be found in the old 
records of the different towns, cities and states in which the light-houses were placed. 

2. The records from the year 1789 when the federal government assumed control 
of the light-house service to the year 1852 when the light-house board was established 
are fairly intact and in tolerable order, but they have yet to be collected and prop- 
erly indexed. They consist of reports, pamphlets, contracts, correspondence, specifi- 
cations, etc., relating to the light-stations established during this period. There is a 
complete index of the outgoing correspondence making research more or less 
practicable. 

3. The records from 1852 to date are in fair working order. They consist of 
reports, pamphlets, etc., similar to those above and are preserved in the office of the 
light-house board. A complete index of all these records has been kept. 

For lists of records officially destroyed as valueless, see S. Ex. Doc. 44, 
51 Cong., 1 sess.; S. Rept.. 1048, 53 Cong., 3 sess.; S. Doc. 246, 55 Cong., 
2 sess.; and S. Doc. 97, 57 Cong., 1 sess. 

BUREAU OF LABOR. 

The Bureau of Labor was organized in the Interior Department in 
January, 1885, under the act of June 27, 1884 (23 Stat. L. 60), but in 
1888 was established as an independent Department of Labor (25 Stat. 
L. 182). In 1903, upon the creation of the Department of Commerce and 
Labor, it was made a bureau in that department. Its duties are to collect 
and diffuse information on all subjects connected with labor, its hours, 
earnings, relations to capital, disputes, etc. Sketches of the organization 
and functions of the bureau are to be found in " The Working of the De- 
partment of Labor ", by Carroll D. Wright and " Bureaus of Statistics of 
Labor in the United States ", by G. W. W. Hanger (Bulletin No. 54, 
Bureau of Labor, Washington, 1904), and "Organization and Law of the 
Department of Commerce and Labor ", chapter vi. 

There are no original records in the Bureau of Labor that are accessible, 
the information that is collected but not published being regarded as con- 
fidential. There is, however, very little material of any value that is not 
published. For a descriptive list of all the publications of this bureau see 
the annual report of the commissioner of labor for 1904-1905. 

The library of the bureau contains the material of most value to the 
student. It possesses over 15,000 books and pamphlets on sociological sub- 
jects, and has excellent collections of trade-union publications such as 
periodicals, reports, proceedings, constitutions, etc., reports of state labor- 
bureaus, and the labor reports, statistical year-books, and other statistical 
publications of foreign cities and countries. 



236 Department of Commerce and Labor. 

BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION. 

By the ict of Congress approved March 3, 1891 (2G Stat. L. 108. r >) there 
was created in the Treasury Department the office of Superintendent of 
Immigration. Prior to this time the immigration laws were administered 
by State officials under the direction .uid control of the Secretary of the 

Treasury. The new office was designated by the officials of the Treasury 

Department, the Bureau of Immigration, which designation was later 
adopted by C ong ress when making appropriations for the maintenance of 
the office of the superintendent of immigration, whose title was changed to 
ConimisMomr (u m r :1 of Immigration hy the appropriation act of March 
2, 1800. The enforcement of the Chinese exclusion laws was vested in 
the commissioner-genera] of immigration hy the act of June <>, 1900 (31 
St it. L. 588), and the Bureau of Immigration and the commissioner-general 
were transferred from the Treasury to the Department of Commerce and 
I ibor by the act of February 1 I. 1908. An act of June 29, 1900, changed 
the title of the bureau to Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization and 
authorised the establishment therein of a division to be known as the 
Division of Naturalization. For a history of the bureau, see " Organization 
and Law of the Department of Commerce and Labor ", chapter xiv. 

Four sets of laws are therefore administered through the agency of the 
commissioner-general and the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, 
viz.. the general immigration laws, the alien contract-labor laws, the 
Chinese exclusion laws, and the naturalization laws. The records concern- 
ing these several subjects, extending from the dates of approval of the acts 
mentioned to date, are complete and are arranged in such manner that data 
required therefrom can be easily procured, the card-index system being 
.applied to such records by subjects, names, and numbers. The records 
consist principally of correspondence regarding the cases of individual 
aliens, and cover all instances in which appeals have been taken from ex- 
cluding decisions rendered at United States ports. Their principal value 
consists in the bearing which they have upon the administration of the 
several laws named. Important decisions are to be found in the printed 
Treasury decisions and since July, 1903, in the printed decisions of the 
Department of Commerce and Labor, and the most valuable of the statistical 
information compiled with regard to immigration is contained in the annual 
reports of the commissioner-general, and in various other publications, 
notably those of the Bureau of Statistics. 

BUREAU OF CORPORATIONS. 

The Bureau of Corporations was organized under the act of February 14, 
1903, establishing the Department of Commerce and Labor. The work 



Bureau of the Census. 237 

of the bureau falls into the following divisions: (1) special investigations 
of particular corporations, joint-stock companies, or corporate combinations, 
other than common carriers, engaged in interstate and foreign commerce; 
(2) the collection and publication of useful information regarding such 
corporations; (3) the collection of information (without the power of com- 
pulsion) respecting insurance companies; (4) legal research, including the 
compilation and digesting of court decisions, and federal, state, and foreign 
laws; and (5) economic and statistical work. A full account of the powers 
and work of the bureau is to be found in the first annual report of the com- 
missioner of corporations, December 19, 1904 (H. Doc. 412, 58 Cong., 3 
sess.). The archives of the bureau, containing the information described 
above, are considered confidential and are not accessible. The bureau pub- 
lishes from time to time such information as the President directs. A 
library of over 2,000 volumes has been collected; it consists of law text- 
books, reports, digests, state codes and statutes, statistical publications, 
mainly of the United States, reports of state officers, boards, and bureaus, 
insurance publications, works on economics, and printed cases and pleadings. 

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS. 

The Bureau of the Census was established as a permanent office, within 
the Department of the Interior, by the act of March 6, 1902. On July 1, 
1903, it was transferred to the Department of Commerce and Labor. The 
bureau is charged with the duty of taking the periodical censuses of the 
United States, and of collecting such special statistics as are required by 
Congress, together with the collection, annually, of statistics of births and 
deaths in registration areas, statistics of the cotton production of the country 
as returned by the ginners, and statistics of cities of 30,000 or more inhab- 
itants. The bureau is coming to be regarded as the general information 
office of the government, and inquiries on every variety of topic are con- 
stantly received, and so far as possible, answered. An account of the his- 
tory of the census and of the establishment of the permanent bureau, to- 
gether with the law pertaining to the bureau, is in " Organization and Law 
of the Department of Commerce and Labor ", chapter vm. For the publi- 
cations of the Bureau see " List of Publications, Tenth, Eleventh, and 
Twelfth Censuses, and Permanent Bureau" (Washington, 1906), and E. C. 
Lunt's " Key to the Publications of the United States Census, 1790-1887 " 
in Publications of American Statistical Association, new series, no. 3, 1888. 

The Bureau of the Census is accumulating an unusually complete library 
of statistical and reference works. At the close of 1904 the library con- 
tained over 30,000 volumes and pamphlets, including tracts and technical 
periodicals, and statistical reports, national, state, and local, of the United 
States, and other countries. 



238 Department of Commerce and Labor. 

I. Original Census Sciikdules. 

The Burr in of tin- Census possesses archives of great value in the form 
of the original schedules of the twelve censuses thus far taken. These 
schedules, formerly in the Patents and Miscellaneous Division of the office 
of the Secretary of the Interior, were transferred to the Bureau of the 
Census, andex the act of January 12, 1903. This material, with the excep- 
tion of the schedules for the eleventh census, 1890, is stored in the fire- 
proof vault of the census liuilding. A recent rule prohibits direct access 
bo the records on account <>f their deterioration. Searches, however, will be 
made by officers of the bureau, and copies of desired documents can be 
secured upon payment of a small fee. For a description of these schedules, 
showing tin- precise nature of the information contained In them, and indi- 
cating their great value, see "The History and Growth of the United 
States Census " (especially pages 76—79) by Carroll D. Wright and William 
C. Hunt (S. Doc. 194, 56 Cong., 1 sess.). 

1. First census, 1790 (27 vols.). 

Population only; Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode 
Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of Co- 
lumbia, North Carolina, South Carolina. 

2. Second census, 1800 (27 vols.). 

Population only; same states as above with addition of Delaware. 

3. Third census, 1810 (U vols.). 

Population and manufactures bound together; same as second census with 
addition of Virginia, Kentucky, and Orleans Territory. 

4. Fourth census, 1820 (96 vols.). 

(a) Population, 73 vols.; Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massa- 
chusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, 
Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina, South 
Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, 
Illinois, Indiana. 

(b) Manufactures, 23 vols. ; same as for population except that the 
schedules for Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, Rhode Island, and South Carolina are missing. 

6. Fifth census, 1830 (190 vols.). 1 

Population only; no schedules missing. 

6. Sixth census, 18J.0 (SOlf. vols.). 

(a) Population, 273 vols. 

(b) Agriculture, manufactures, mines and mining, fish and fisheries, com- 
merce, and education, 31 vols. 

1 Beginning with the fifth census the various classes of schedules are assumed in 
this list to be complete unless otherwise indicated. 



Bureau of the Census. 239 

7. Seventh census, 1850 (8^3 vols.). 

(a) Population, free and slave inhabitants; free, 588 vols.; slave, 81 vols, 
(slave schedules for Delaware and District of Columbia are missing). 

(b) Agriculture, 101 vols. 

(c) Mortality, 32 vols. 

(d) Industry, 21 vols. 

(e) Social statistics, 20 vols. 

8. Eighth census, 1860 (92£ vols.). 

(a) Population, free and slave inhabitants, on separate schedules; free, 
711 vols.; slave, 49 vols. 

(b) Agriculture, 106 vols. 

(c) Mortality, 21 vols. 

(d) Manufactures, 18 vols. 

(e) Social statistics, 19 vols. 

9. Ninth census, 1870 (826 vols.). 

(a) Population, 649 vols. 

(b) Agriculture, 114 vols. 

(c) Industry, 31 vols. 

(d) Mortality, 28 vols. 

(e) Social statistics, 4 vols. 

10. Tenth census, 1880 (1,328 vols.). 

(a) Population, 824 vols. 

(b) Agriculture, 322 vols. 

(c) Manufactures, 72 vols. 

(d) Defective, dependent, and delinquent classes, 58 vols. 

(e) Mortality, 52 vols. 

11. Partial census of 1885. 

Unbound schedules of population for Nebraska, Colorado, Florida, Dakota 
Territory, and New Mexico Territory. 

12. Eleventh census, 1890. 

The schedules of the eleventh census are unbound. It is estimated that 
the population schedules, if bound, would make about 30,000 volumes, owing 
to the form of the schedule. The agricultural schedules have been trans- 
ferred to the custody of the Department of Agriculture; and the schedules 
relating to veterans have been transferred to the Pension Bureau. The 
schedules relating to mortality and social statistics were damaged by fire 
in March, 1896, and were destroyed by order of the Secretary of the Interior. 

13. Twelfth census, 1900. 
Population, 2,812 vols. 



240 Department of Commerce and Labor. 

II. Maps. 

In the Division of tin Geographer of the Bureau of the Census arc filed 
topographical maps of every state and territory and of nearly every city 
in tlic United States. These maps are kept up to date by platting upon 
them each annexation and detachment of territory. 

BUREAU OF MANUFACTURES. 

The Bureau of Manufactures was organized In February, 1005, under 
the act creating the Department of Commerce and Labor; at the same time 
the Division of Consular Reports (formerly the Bureau of Foreign Com- 
merce in the Department of State) was transferred from the Bureau of 
Statistics in the Department of Commerce and Labor to the Bureau of 
Manufactures. It is the province and duty of the bureau "to foster, pro- 
mote, and develop the various manufacturing industries of the United States, 
and markets for t lit- same at home and abroad, ... by gathering, com- 
piling, publishing, and supplying all available and useful information 
concerning such industries and such markets ". In this bureau are edited 
and published the Consular Reports. The archives of the bureau have not 
been examined; inasmuch as the main purpose of the bureau is to collect and 
publish information, it is not likely that its archives, when they have accumu- 
lated sufficiently to warrant attention, will liave any considerable historical 
value. 

BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

The Fish Commission was established by joint- resolution of Congress 
of February 0, 1871, and continued as an independent organization until, 
with the title of Bureau of Fisheries, it was made a part of the Department 
of Commerce and Labor, July 1, 1903. For a history of the bureau, and 
an account of the law pertaining to it, see " Organization and Law of the 
Department of Commerce and Labor ", chapter xii. The work of the 
bureau is along three lines: (1) the systematic investigation of the waters of 
the United States and of the biological and physical problems that they 
present; (2) the introduction and multiplication of useful food fishes 
throughout the country, particularly in the coastal waters and Great Lakes ; 
(3) the investigation of the methods of the fisheries, past and present, and 
of the statistics of production and commerce of fishery products. The 
bureau has a large library and publishes many bulletins and papers each 
year. A list of the publications of the Fish Commission, from its estab- 
lishment to February, 1896, is printed in the annual report for 1894, pp. 
617-706. Successive annual reports contain lists of current publications. 
The bureau is a scientific organization and publishes the results of its 
investigations; its archives are mainly administrative in character. No ex- 
amination of them has been made. 



Bureau of Statistics. 241 

BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 

The duties of the Bureau of Standards were formerly performed under 
the direction of the superintendent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. By 
the act of March 3, 1901, the Bureau of Standards was established in the 
Treasury Department as a separate office and in July, 1903, was transferred 
to the Department of Commerce and Labor. A sketch of the bureau is in 
" Organization and Law of the Department of Commerce and Labor ", 
chapter xv. The bureau is charged with the custody, comparison, combina- 
tion, and testing of the standards of weights and measures, and with the 
solution of problems arising in connection therewith. The bureau maintains 
a technical library of about 4,000 bound volumes and pamphlets. The 
results of the scientific work of the bureau are published in the form of 
bulletins. The archives of the bureau have not been examined. 

BUREAU OF STATISTICS. 

Under an act of February 7, 1820, a Division of Commerce and Naviga- 
tion was organized in the Treasury Department for the purpose of pub- 
lishing information respecting the foreign commerce of the United States. 
Under the act of July 28, 1866, a Bureau of Statistics was established in 
the Treasury Department and the Division of Commerce and Navigation 
was consolidated with it. The duties of the bureau were enlarged from 
time to time until, in 1903, it was transferred to the Department of Com- 
merce and Labor. The present bureau is mainly a publishing office; its 
archives, which have not been examined, are said to relate chiefly to admin- 
istrative matters. The material of value to the student is published in 
such form as the annual volumes, " Statistical Abstract ", and " Commerce 
and Navigation"; the monthly issues, "Summary of Commerce and 
Finance", and "Review of Internal Commerce"; and the monographs on 
special subjects, issued from time to time. In chapter x. 1 of " Organization 
and Law of the Department of Commerce and Labor ", are historical ac- 
counts of the offices of which the bureau is composed, and the legislation 
relating to the work of the bureau. 

1 Since the account here referred to was compiled, the Division of Consular Reports 
(the former Bureau of Foreign Commerce of the Department of State) has been 
transferred to the Bureau of Manufactures. 



17 



24 2 Civil Service Commission. 



CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. 

The duties of the Civil Service Commission consist in examining applicants 
for positions in the classified service, in apportioning the appointments 
among the states ami territories, and in enforcing the civil-service regula- 
tions. The annual reports of the commission contain much valuable his- 
torical and statistical information relating to the classified service. The 
report for 1005 contains (pp. 257-2GO) a combined index of the reports of 
the commission; the report of June, 1!>(M), contains a digest of the decisions 
of the commission and of the opinions of the Attorney-General ; and the 
publication, "Civil Service Act, Rules, and Executive Orders with Notes 
on the Rules ". contains a statement regarding the archives and publications 
of the commission. 

The library of the commission should be especially noted; it contains 
fairly complete collections of congressional documents and department 
publications relating to executive patronage and the civil service, as well 
as collections of bills, speeches, and newspaper clippings, and of the 
reports and other publications of state or local civil service commissions. 

The records of the commission are largely administrative in character, and 
tlnir in t eres t is chiefly personal, but for a study of the subject of executive 
patronage they have considerable value. They are complete since the 
establishment of the commission in 1883, and although in constant official 
use are accessible for historical purposes. They are classified as follows: 

1. Proceedings of the commission {SO vols.). 

2. Offices in the classified service. 

Papers relating to all the offices under civil service rules. Filed nu- 
merically with an index to the names of the offices. 

8. Personal records. 

Records of everyone who is or has been in the classified service, with 
history of his service. On cards, arranged alphabetically and by offices. 

4. Application and examination papers. 

The examination papers of applicants who have failed are destroyed after 
they have been on file for five years (S. Doc. 88; H. Rept. 882, 57 Cong., 
1 sess.). 

6. Department reports on changes in their service. 

6. Correspondence. 

Correspondence with the President, members of Congress, the executive 



Civil Service Commission. 243 

departments, and the general public, with complete index to names and 
subj ects. 

7. Questions. 

Volumes of specimens of all questions used in examinations. 

8. Congressional hearings. 

Reports of hearings before committees of Congress. 



244 



Interstate Commerce Commission. 



INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION. 



The duties of the Interstate Commerce Commission arc fully described 
in the acts „t February \, 1887 (24 Stat. L. 383), August 7, 1888 (25 Stat. 
L. 382), .March J, 1803 (27 Stat. L. 531), and March 3, 1901 (31 Stat. L. 
1 l \<;\ June 88j 1006 (31 Stat. L. 584), and joint resolution of June SO, 
190G (34 Stat. L. 838). The records of the commission are complete 
from its establishment in 1887, are administrative in character, are admir- 
ably arranged and indexed, and, with a few exceptions, are accessible. The 
.■m tin il report! of the commission contain lists of cases, abstracts of de- 
cisions, and other material, which not only serve to indicate in some detail 
tin- character of the more important files, but in many cases make recourse 
to the original papers unnecessary. The records and files comprise the 
following classes: 

/. Correspondence, 1887 to date. 

Arranged numerically (i. e., in strict chronological order) and made ac- 
cessible by a card-index to subjects and writers, which contains also briefs 
of the letters. 

2. Informal complaints. 

Informal complaints are those cases which are not tried, but in which 
the commission acting as mediary secures a compromise between the com- 
plainant and the aggressor. All papers relating to an informal complaint 
are placed together in a single jacket or envelope, and indexed on cards. 
For a list of informal complaints from year to year see the successive an- 
nual reports of the commission. 

S. Formal complaints. 

Formal complaints are those cases which are formally tried by the com- 
mission. All papers (such as evidence, briefs, records of trial, opinions, 
decisions, etc.) relating to a case are jacketed together and indexed on cards, 
and a regular court docket is kept which shows the history of each case. 
For a list of formal complaints year by year see the successive annual 
reports of the commission. For a digest of all points decided since the 
establishment of the commission, see the annual reports of 1904 and succeed- 
ing years. The decisions of the commissioners are published in the style 
usually adopted for court reports : " Interstate Commerce Commission Re- 
ports ", reported by the Commissioners, 1887- (New York and Rohester, 
1888-). 



Interstate Commerce Commission. 245 

J/.. Railroad tariffs. 

All railroads are required to deposit copies of their tariffs with the com- 
mission. At present there are more than 5,000,000 such documents on file. 

5. Certificates of concurrence in the tariffs. 

6. Monthly reports of accidents returned by the railroads. 

See the published "Accident Bulletins " (Washington, 1902-). 

7. Miscellaneous papers and reports. 

Chief among these publications collected by the statistician are the annual 
reports of railroads. For the published statistical information derived from 
them, see the annual reports of the commission. 

An excellent library is maintained by the commission, and contains several 
thousand volumes and pamphlets bearing on the subject of transportation. 
Among its special features may be noted a card-index to articles in news- 
papers and periodicals, reports of state railroad commissions, a complete 
collection of congressional documents bearing on the subject of interstate 
commerce, foreign official reports and documents, reports and documents 
of railroad companies, proceedings of organizations, and general and special 
treatises. 



246 The Smithsonian Institution. 



THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 

The Smithsonian Institution was formally established by act of Congress 
of August 10, 1840, as a result of the bequest of James Smithson, a British 
■object who died in 1829. In accordance with the terms of the bequest the 
object of the institution is " tin- increase and diffusion of knowledge among 
men ". Affiliated with it, under the same head, the Secretary of the Smith- 
BOni in Institution, .ire the National Museum, the Bureau of American Eth- 
nology, and the Astrophysics! Observatory. In George Brown Goode's 
"Smithsonian Institution. [846-1896" (Washington, 1897) is a complete 
history of the institution with detailed accounts of its work and of its 
collections; with the exception of the manuscripts. The administrative 
records of tlie institution are of value for a history of the institution itself, 
and those of most importance are accessible in " The Smithsonian Institution, 
Journal of the Board of Regents, Reports of Committees, Statistics, etc.", 
edited by \V. J. ELhees (Washington, 1879). The relations of the institu- 
tion to Congress arc fully set forth in " The Smithsonian Institution: Docu- 
ments Relating to its Origin and History, 1835-1899", edited by W. J. 
Hhi is (H. Doc, vol. 113, 5G Cong., 1 sess.), while the publications of the 
institution arc listed in " List of Publications of the Smithsonian Institution, 
1848-1608", by \V. J. Rhees (Washington, 1903). 

On January 24, 18G5, a fire destroyed much of the secretary's correspond- 
ence ("Smithsonian Institution Documents", I. 042) and many diaries, 
memorandum-books, and account-books ; thus the administrative records are 
complete only since 1865. They consist of the usual accounts and business 
records, and of 400 volumes of letters sent and GOO volumes of letters 
received ; this correspondence relates to acquisitions, scientific matters, the 
Fish Commission, the National Museum, etc. It is perfectly accessible, is 
arranged chronologically, and thoroughly indexed. 

The Smithsonian Institution is the medium through which a system of 
exchanges with foreign governments and learned societies is maintained. 
These exchanges are deposited in the Library of Congress and constitute a 
most valuable collection. The library of the Bureau of American Ethnol- 
ogy is particularly rich in works relating to the American Indians and to 
anthropology and ethnology. 

CoLifcnoNs. 

In addition to the administrative records of the Smithsonian Institution, 
there are in its various bureaus, and especially in the National Museum, 
several collections of papers of some historical value which have been ac- 
quired in various ways, but chiefly by gift. 



The Smithsonian Institution. 247 

1. The Ord papers, 1840-1887 {National Museum). 

This collection was presented by Mrs. Lucy Ord Mason and consists of 
193 autograph letters, the correspondence, for the most part, of General 
E. O. C. Ord, U.S.A. A manuscript calendar has been prepared and is 
filed with the collection. Among the more important documents are 63 
letters from General W. T. Sherman, 1844-1887, relating to many matters, 
mostly personal, but sometimes of historical interest; such subjects as the 
Vicksburg campaign, Mexican frontier troubles, 1875—1877, the Fenian 
invasion of Canada, 1866, General Grant, the policy of the War Department, 
etc., are touched on. There are also letters from Grant, 1862-1867, some 
of which are military orders, and one of which, a confidential letter of 
February 27, 1865, relates to the meeting of Ord and Longstreet; seven- 
teen letters from General Sheridan, 1864—1879, and letters from various 
persons such as Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, R. B. Hayes, R. E. Lee (inclosing 
his application for amnesty, June 13, 1865), and many others having for 
the most part only autographic value. Finally should be noted a number 
of papers written by Ord, including reports of battles and movements of 
troops, as: operations of the Army of the James from March 29, 1865, to 
Lee's surrender; trip through the Indian country, September, 1866; descrip- 
tion of the Battle of the Four Lakes, Colorado, September 4, 1858; views 
on Mexican land claims in California, etc. 

2. The Schoolcraft papers {National Museum). 

The Schoolcraft papers consist of manuscripts of Professor Henry R. 
Schoolcraft's books and sketches, fifteen volumes and five file-cases of his 
correspondence, together with newspapers and other material. There are 
sketches relating to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to Oregon, to Minne- 
sota, and to the names of American lakes; criticisms; maps; correspondence 
with members of his family, with Lewis Cass and other public men ; a volume 
of letters relating to the Indian agency ; diaries, note-books, etc. ; and news- 
paper articles relating to the Indians. These papers, while mostly of 
literary and ethnological value, still have much historical and biographical 
interest. They have been copied, and are to be published by the Michigan 
Pioneer and Historical Society. This collection is supplemented by the 
group of Schoolcraft papers in the Library of Congress. 

S. The John A. Halderman papers {National Museum). 

This collection, which was presented to the Smithsonian Institution in 
December, 1893, contains papers pertaining to the United States Legation 
at Bangkok, Siam; a letter from the King of Siam, March 23, 1866; letters 
from Siamese officers in 1867; brief papers on mission troubles in Siam; 
correspondence with P. T. Barnun; and many letters of only autographic 
interest. 



248 The Smithsonian Institution. 

Jf. The J'ail papers, IS-lT-lSo^ (National Museum). 

There is a manuscript inventory of the Vail papers in the Museum, from 
which the following descriptive note is compiled: This collection of about 
twenty-five manuscript volumes, together with several bundles of papers, 
relates to the magnetic telegraph. It is composed largely of the correspond- 
ence of Alfred Vail, S. F. B. Morse. Professor Jackson, Sir John Campbell, 
Amos Kendall, and other*. 

5. Scientific manuscripts {Library of the Smithsonian Institution). 

In the library of the Smithsonian Institution is a collection of about one 
hundred scientific manuscripts. Many of these .are long essays, while 
others are the scientific notes of exploring expeditions. They arc fully 
catalogued, but as they possess no interest for the investigator in historical 
subjects, the list is not included in this report. Such subjects as zoology, 
ethnology, hot any. forestry, etc., are treated. 

G. Linguistic manuscripts (Bureau of American Ethnology). 

This is a collection of about 1,700 manuscripts consisting mainly of the 
vocabularies of Indian tribes north of Mexico. A manuscript catalogue 
of the collection is filed with it. 

7. The Berlandicr papers (National Museum). 

These papers are part of the Luis Berlandicr collection of historical and 
geographical manuscripts relating to Mexico and Texas. They appear to 
have been acquired later than the main part of that collection, for they are 
not included in the catalogue of it as printed in the annual report of the 
Smithsonian Institution for 1854 (p. 390). The main part of the collection 
is said to have been transferred to the Library of Congress in 18GG. The 
papers now in the National Museum consist of five volumes on the zoology 
of Mexico, two volumes on the comparative anatomy of that country, one 
volume of original drawings illustrating the above material, and two bundles 
of manuscripts describing the insect and plant life of Mexico and Texas. 

8. Miscellaneous documents (Bureau of American Ethnology). 

(1) Diario del padre fray Francisco Garces. 

Purchased by the Bureau of American Ethnology from Nicolas Leon, of 
the City of Mexico, in 1897. Translated in Elliott Coues's "On the Trial 
of a Spanish Pioneer" (New York, 1899). 

(2) Diario del padre Dominguez en Sonora y Sinaloa, 1731. 

Purchased by the Bureau of American Ethnology from Nicolas Leon, 
of the City of Mexico, in 1898. 

(3) Font Diary, 1777. 

Copy; original in John Carter Brown Library, Brown University. 

(4) Diario del Don Antonio de Otermin, 1G81. 

(5) Autos de Guerra de la Reconquista de Nuevo Mexico, 1694. 



The Smithsonian Institution. 249 

(6) Documentos de la Ynsurreceion de los Indios in Nuevo Mexico, 1693. 
The last three entries are copies of transcripts in the possession of Gen- 
eral W. W. H. Davis of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. 

9. Miscellaneous manuscript acquisitions {National Museum}. 

The following were selected, from several bundles of papers, as having 
the most value: 

(1) Photograph of the Culpepper deed of Mt. Vernon, 1679. 

(2) Original copy (printed) of Edmund Randolph's " Vindication ", 
1795 (loan collection of J. M. Noah). 

(3) A few statements of the number of American prisoners at Melville 
Island, showing number in hospital, May- August, 1814. 

(4) Broadside giving plan and description of Dartmoor Prison, Eng- 
land, and the report of a committee of prisoners on the causes of the " late 
massacre" there, April 7, 1815 (published at office of "National Advo- 
cate "). 

(5) Manumission paper of Joseph Carpenter, a negro slave, Dutchess 
County, New York, February 23, 1818. 

(6) Letter from John Randolph, of Roanoke, March 4, 1819, accepting 
what seems to be a congressional nomination (in envelope marked J. E. 
Watkins). 

(7) The log-book of the " Savannah ", the first steamer to cross the At- 
lantic, 1819. 

(8) Antimasonic Almanac, 1832, by Edward Giddings, Utica (William 
Williams, publisher). 

(9) Harrison Almanac, 1841; campaign songs, etc. 

(10) Tariff of the Republic of Texas, as modified by the Second Con- 
gress. Made out by B. H. Norton, Texas Agency, New York. 

(11) Letter of J. E. B. Stuart, June 20, 1862, to G. W. Randolph, Con- 
federate Secretary of War, recommending John S. Mosby for promotion. 

10. American historical exhibits (National Museum). 

In the National Museum are many exhibits illustrative of American his- 
tory. There are trophies of all the wars, exhibits of Grant, Lincoln, and 
Washington relics and collections, etc. These are all catalogued in the 
Museum and are described in the various Washington guides. 



250 Supreme Court of the United States. 



SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES. 

The archives of the Supreme Court arc kept in the office of the clerk and 
consist of the records of the proceedings of the court, the papers connected 
with the cases coming before it, and the decisions rendered. In addition to 
these regular records are to be found the records of the prize appeal cases 
that came before the committee of appeals in the Continental Congress and 
its successor the Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture. The archives are 
well preserved in metal lockers and file-cases, and are admirably arranged. 
The best history of the court is that by Hampton L. Carson: " The Supreme 
Court of the United States: its History" (Philadelphia, 1892). 

I. Revolution mi v I'hi/.e Appeal Cases, 1776-1788. 

There are in the office of the clerk the records and papers of 109 cases of 
prize appeals which were decided by the committee of appeals in the Conti- 
nental Congress, or by the Court of Appeals, and which are not reported 
by Dallas. These records were deposited here by the act of May 8, 1792 
(1 Stat. L. 279). In United States Reports (vol. 131, Centennial ap- 
pendix, pp. xxxiv-xlix) the reporter, J. C. Bancroft Davis, has published 
■in inventory of these cases, giving the dates of docketing and decisions, so 
far as they can be ascertained, and showing the states in which the cases 
originated. In " American Antiquarian Society Proceedings " (New 
Series, II. 118—123), together with a brief description of the material in the 
Supreme Court, is another list of these cases. This latter list, as compared 
with the one in the United States Reports, shows a large number of errors; 
it was prepared several years before the latter and should be used only when 
that is not accessible. In " Essays on the Constitutional History of the 
United States", J. F. Jameson, editor (Boston, 1889), essay I., "The 
Predecessor of the Supreme Court ", by the editor, contains in both text and 
foot-notes numerous references to this material, which throw light on its 
character in specific cases, while in Hampton L. Carson's " The Supreme 
Court of the United States: its History " (pp. 61-G4) is an excellent descrip- 
tion of these records. 

II. Records of Proceedings and Cases. 
1. Dockets. 

(a) Original docket, 1803 to date (80 vols.). 

(o) Engrossed docket, 1791 to date (36 vols.) 

There are two sets of dockets, the original docket, on which each case is 
entered as it comes up, and the engrossed docket, which contains under each 



Supreme Court of the United States. 251 

case its complete history compiled from the various docket-books in which 
the case has been entered. 

2. Minutes. 

(a) Rough minutes, February 1, 1790, to date (85 vols.). 

(&) Engrossed minutes, February 1, 1790, to date (61 vols, in 1894). 

The rough minutes contain the notes of the proceedings as they are made 
in court. The engrossed minutes contain a complete report of the proceed- 
ings of each session, appointments of officers of the court, admissions to 
practice, etc., and are kept in a safe. 

3. Admissions to practice, 1790 to date. 

The signatures of those admitted to practice before the Supreme Court 
from 1790 to 1806 are kept on two rolls of parchment. Since that time 
they have been kept in books, one of which has, however, been burned. 
There is a card-index giving the names and residences of all those admitted 
to practice, and the dates of their admission. 

Jf.. Records of cases, 1790 to date. 

The record of a case consists of the petition, evidence, briefs, decisions, 
etc., and the record of the case in the lower courts. These records are 
arranged in bundles by cases, and are on file since 1790. In 1832 records 
of important cases began to be printed, and in 1853 all briefs were required 
to be printed. Only a few briefs before that date are preserved, but all the 
briefs since then are to be found bound together in many hundred volumes, 
constituting a valuable collection. These records, even though printed, 
must be distinguished from the reports. The records and briefs are for the 
most part to be found only in the office of the clerk of the Supreme Court. 
There is a card-index which gives the name of each case, its file number, and 
dates of docketing and disposal. 

5. Correspondence. 

The correspondence relating to cases is filed by itself. It relates 
almost entirely to the technical management of cases and has little general 
interest. 

6. Opinions. 

The original opinions are preserved here, but they are printed in the 
reports and need not be described. 



252 Court of Claims. 



COURT OF CLAIMS. 

The Court of Claims was established in 1855 (10 Stat. L. 612), and has 
jurisdiction o\rr all private claims against the United States founded upon 
the Constitution or upon act of Congress, except such as arc otherwise pro- 
vided for. Foi B history of the Court of Claims see W. A. Richardson's 

Hi>ti>ry. Jurisdiction, and Practice of the Court of Claims" (Washington, 
1885). The records of the court consist of the usual dockets, minutes, etc., 
and of the papers connected with the cases coming before it, such as peti- 
tions, evidence, briefs, correspondence, etc. It is evident that the records 
are often of very great historical value because of the facts disclosed or the 
points of 1 iw involved, although there may ho in other departments of the 
rnment many of the manuscripts or papers upon which the claim pre- 
sented to the court is based. This, for example, is true of the cases arising 
under the " Alabama Claims Commission ", or the " Mexican Claims Com- 
mission " under tin treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The earliest papers on 
file are those relating to the French spoliation cases, which antedate 1800 
(23 Stat. L. 283). The bulk of the records is very great and an estimate 
of it is impossible; there are about 50,000 cases on file, and their records 
vary from a few papers in some cases to a large locker full of documents 
in others. The papers are arranged in bundles by cases, and are filed in 
lockers and chests. Each case is docketed, and the dockets serve as guides 
to the great mass of material. Access to the records for the purpose of 
investigation may be had through an order of the court, for which applica- 
tion should be made to the Chief-Justice. 

From 1855 through 1862 the Court of Claims reported to the House of 
Representatives, and the reports are to be found in the House Documents 
for those years. For the years 18G3 and 1804, two volumes, entitled " De- 
cisions of the Court of Claims ", were published, but in 1805 a regular sys- 
tem of reporting similar to that employed in the Supreme Court was adopted: 
these "Court of Claims Reports" from 1865 to 1906 fill 41 volumes. In 
volume 40 there is an alphabetical list of all cases reported prior to 1905. 
Although this list does not include numerous cases where the decisions were 
merely upon questions of fact, where the court was equally divided upon 
the law, or cases in which no opinion was delivered, it is of great aid to the 
student of the records. A more comprehensive index is in preparation. 

The description of the Department of Justice (see above), especially of 
the offices of the assistant attorneys-general before the Court of Claims, will 
be found useful in supplementing this account. The annual reports of the 



Court of Claims. 253 

Department of Justice contain much information about the various classes 
of cases. 

The records are classified according to the various kinds of cases, as 
follows : 

1. Cases against the District of Columbia (858 cases). 
Important cases are printed. 

2. General jurisdiction cases (29,9^8 cases). 

These cases are brought before the court for judgment under the pro- 
vision of general acts of Congress establishing the court or conferring 
general jurisdiction upon it. There are a few cases however under this 
division which by special act or resolution have been referred to the court 
for report. The cases where judgment has been rendered have been printed. 

8. Indian depredation cases (10,84-2 cases). 

The earliest case of this class dates from 1812, but most cases are later 
than 1850. Many important questions are involved, e. g., the status of 
citizens of New Mexico during the interval between the treaty of Guadalupe 
Hidalgo and the extension of the laws of the United States; the status of 
that part of New Mexico claimed by Texas, etc. When the amount involved 
is more than two thousand dollars the records of cases are printed (26 
Stat. L. 851). 

J/.. French spoliation cases (5,552. cases). 

See 23 Stat. L. 283. The majority of these cases have been printed. 
See " List of Vessels, with the Docket Numbers of Cases filed in the Court 
of Claims under the Act of January 20, 1885 ". 

5. Congressional cases (12,6 '44- cases). 

These cases are brought before the court under the provisions of some 
act of Congress conferring special jurisdiction. Good examples are the 
Bowman Act of 1883 (22 Stat. L. 485) and the Tucker Act of 1887 (24 
Stat. L. 359). The Bowman Act, for example, calls for a report which 
shall aid Congress or one of its committees in passing upon a claim pre- 
sented for legislative action and does not call for a judgment. In some 
instances, however, powers of judgment have been granted. Many of these 
congressional cases relate to Southern claims arising in consequence of the 
Civil War. 

See " Digest of Claims referred by Congress to the Court of Claims from 
the 48th to the 51st Congress, inclusive, for a finding of facts under the 
Bowman Act" (Washington, 1891). 

6. Naval bounty cases (4,000 cases). 

Claims for bounty or prize money, arising out of the Spanish War. 



254 Court of Claims. 

7. Departmental cases {86 cases). 

These are cases which, under the provisions of 22 Stat. L. 485 and 24 
Stat. L. 505, are referred to the Court of Claims by the executive depart- 
ments. The majority are submitted for opinion or report, but there are 
some which arc referred to the court for judgment. The reports of the 
latter class of cases arc all printed. 



SENATE. 

The files of the Senate, kept in the office of the Secretary of the Senate, 
appear to be more complete than those of the House of Representatives. 
There were no losses in 1814, although many valuable papers are said to 
have been lost in later times. The files consist of the original journals, 
minute-books, and bills and resolutions, the manuscript copies from which 
the Senate documents and reports are printed, and the original reports, 
petitions, memorials, and other papers received in the Senate. There are 
also to be found here, so far as they are extant, the greater part of the 
files of the various committees. These records are not indexed or listed, 
the only guide in their use being the labelling of the volumes, boxes, and 
packages and the general chronological arrangement. Doubtless the larger 
part of this material has been printed; of the imprinted material the peti- 
tions and memorials probably constitute the larger and more valuable class. 



255 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

On account of the various losses which they have sustained, the files of 
the House of Representatives are very incomplete. In addition to the loss 
in 1811 (American State Papers, Miscellaneous, II. 245) many of the files 
have heen destroyed or lost through the carelcsseness of early custodians. 
The files .ire divided, both by their general character and by their treatment, 
into two groups, as follow-.: 

1. Bound volumes of original papers, First Congress to date. 

These papers arc the originals of the printed journals, documents, reports, 
communications from the executive departments, bills, resolutions, etc. 
There are also here committee dockets and petition-books (being merely 
dockets of petitions); which are not generally printed in the form in which 
tin y arc here found. Occasionally also the unpublished records of a com- 
mitter Investigation; with the testimony taken, are to be found. Such 
material as is not printed in one form or another should have considerable 
value, but an examination of individual documents is the only means of dis- 
covering such material. In January, 1901, all of the bound volumes prior 
to that date, 5,2c..'! in number, were stored in the Library of Congress in 
accordance with the act of June 6, l:»00 (31 Stat. L. G42). A manuscript 
list of these volumes may be seen in the Document Division of the Library 
of Congress, or in the office of the file clerk of the House of Representatives, 
under whose charge they remain. The volumes that have accumulated since 
that date are stored in the sub-basement of the Capitol. 

2. Papers relating to bills, claims, petitions, etc. 

The larger part of these papers, those most in use, are admirably ar- 
ranged in several thousand metal file-boxes in the Capitol, by Congresses 
and by subjects and names. They comprise bills, claims, and petitions, and 
the papers, correspondence, recommendations, etc., relating thereto. There 
are about 500 large boxes of committee papers, accounted expenditures, 
proceedings, investigations, etc., a number of committee dockets, many of 
which however are blank, and a great number of bundles of petitions to the 
early Congresses. Here are petitions against slavery, against the admis- 
sion of Texas, for post-routes, of manufacturers relative to the tariff, against 
Sunday mails, etc. There are papers of as early date as the First Congress, 
but the greater part of the material does not antedate the Eleventh Congress. 



256 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

A detailed account of the collections of the Library of Congress, other 
than manuscripts, would not be appropriate in a guide to the archives, but 
the library has become the depository of so much material of the greatest 
value to the student of American history that a word should be said with 
regard to certain parts of it. The Division of Manuscripts and the Division 
of Maps and Charts are treated separately below. The Division of Docu- 
ments possesses probably the most complete set of congressional documents 
that has been collected; especially is this true of the documents of the first 
fourteen Congresses. Its sets of departmental documents are not so com- 
plete and should be supplemented by the collections in the departmental 
libraries. The collection of state documents is growing and is probably as 
good as can be found in any other single depository. Finally should be 
noted its set of the little known series, Bills and Resolutions, which, while 
not complete, can be supplemented by the set in the Senate library, and is 
a most valuable source, so rare in the earlier years as almost to be classed 
with manuscripts. Of special note in the Periodical Division is the collec- 
tion of newspapers bound in about 35,000 volumes. A list of these has been 
published but is now somewhat out of date: " Check List of American News- 
papers in the Library of Congress" (Washington, 1901). The general 
collection of works relating to America is exceptionally strong; large pur- 
chases of books are made each year and the copyright deposit insures the 
speedy accession of most of the current works published within the United 
States. In the annual reports of the Librarian of Congress are printed 
many lists and descriptive accounts of the materials in the library which 
enable the investigator to obtain an adequate idea as to the growth of the 
collections and their special bearing. One volume of an elaborate history 
of the library has been published, which contains much information relating 
to the collections of the library and the history of their acquisition: " History 
of the Library of Congress, volume I., 1800-1864", by W. D. Johnston 
(Washington, 1904). 

DIVISION OF MANUSCRIPTS. 

The Library of Congress has for many years been the place of deposit 
of valuable collections of historical manuscripts. Among the early collections 
purchased by the government and deposited here were the Jefferson papers 
(1815 and 1829), and the papers of Mrs. Madison (1848); later were ac- 
quired the Loyalist papers (1866), the Force manuscripts (1867), the Ro- 
18 257 



258 Library of Congress. 

chambeau papers (1888), and a body of Washington manuscripts (1882). 
In 1897 tin- Division of Manuscripts was created for the purpose of arrang- 
ing, classifying, and cataloguing tin- materia] on hand and of acquiring and 
caring for such other manuscript collections as should be possessed of his- 
torical value. Since the establishment of this division the acquisitions have 
been numerous and, in many eases, of the greatest value. They have been 

made in various ways: by transfer from other departments, under the appro- 
priation act of February 25, 1903, as in the case of the Continental Congress, 
Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Monroe, Madison, and other papers, 
or of the Confederate records; by transfer from newly acquired territories, 
or from the land offices in older territories, as in the case of the Guam, 
Porto Etico, \' W Mexico, and Florida records; by purchase, as in the case of 

the Andrew Johnson and Crittenden papers; and by gift, as in the case of 
the Jackson, Breckinridge, and Van Buren papers. Thus the Division of 
Manuscripts has come to be the most important depository of historical 
manuscripts within the United States. A general account of the principal 
collections En the library is contained in the "Report of the Librarian of 
Congress with Manual", 1901, pp. 835-444, while lists of accessions, with 
descriptive accounts of the more important ones, arc printed in the annual 
reports of the Librarian as follows: 1890, pp. 7, 8; 1900, pp. 11-12; 1001, 
pp. 19-26, 101-156; 1902, pp. 24-20, 71-70; 1903, pp. 19-28, 77-80; 
1904, pp. 35-01, 159-170; 1905, pp. 20-59, 175-188; 1900, pp. 20-38, 
127-139; 1907, pp. 127-152. Other accounts of these materials are contained 
in an article by Herbert Friedcnwald in the annual report of the American 
Historical Association for 1898 (pp. 35—45), in an article by C. H. Lincoln 
in the "Annals of the American Academy of Political Science" (XIV, 102 
ff.), and in a leaflet of the Library of Congress: " Notes for the Louisiana 
Purchase Exposition, No. 5, Manuscripts ". Special attention may be 
called to the statement of the policy of the library with regard to the 
acquisition of manuscripts as stated in the annual reports of the Librarian 
for 1904 (pp. 58-01) and 1905 (pp. 33-35). All of the individual papers 
in the division are represented in a card catalogue; all of the collections are 
so arranged as to be readily used, and most of them are calendared, or 
have calendars in progress. A number of calendars have been published, 
and these are noted below in their appropriate connections. The Division 
of Manuscripts has published the records of the Virginia Company, and is 
engaged in publishing the journals of the Continental Congress, as noted 
below. In connection with the subject of printed portions of the collections 
should be noted W. C. Ford's account of the " Publication of Historical 
Material by the United States Government ", in the Annual Report of the 
Librarian of Congress for 1904, pp. 171-182. 

The following account of the papers in the division is based upon the 



Division of Manuscripts. 259 

sources of information noted above, together with such others as are men- 
tioned in the text, upon the card catalogue of the division, upon personal 
investigation, and by no means least, upon the very material assistance 
in the form of notes and other information furnished by the chief of the 
division, Mr. Worthington C. Ford. 

I. America. 

Spanish America, General. 

Columbus Codex. This volume is a sixteenth-century compilation of the 
various hereditary grants, charters, and privileges made to Columbus 
by Ferdinand and Isabella. It is probably one of the vellum copies 
prepared under the personal direction of Columbus before sailing on 
his fourth voyage to America, in order to protect his heirs in their 
rights under the Spanish charters. 

Reales cedillas, 1508-1807. Two volumes of manuscripts and pamphlets. 

Relacion de todas las Costas e Yslas de la America Septentrion 1 . A one- 
volume transcript. 

Woodbury Lowery collection. This collection consists of 18 volumes of 
copies of manuscripts relating to Florida, New Mexico, California, 
etc., 2 volumes of original manuscripts entitled " Manuscritos his- 
toricos ", and " Visitas de Presidios por Rubi, . . . ", an anonymous 
original manuscript entitled " Descripcion Historica, Cronologica, 
. . . 7 de la Florida", and Mr. Lowery's manuscript "A Preliminary 
List of Maps of the Spanish Possessions within the Present Limits 
of the United States ", as well as printed works. (Not yet in the 
Library.) 

Mexico and Central America. 

Ribas, Coronica y Historia de la Provincia de la Compaiiia de Jesus, 1571— 
1624. 

Ecclesiastical papers, 1631-(92 papers). These manuscripts are supposed 
to have been captured in the City of Mexico during the Mexi- 
can War. They consist of ninety-two original papers in Spanish 
dating from 1631 and relating to the quarrel between the Jesuits of 
Mexico and the archbishop of that see about tithes which the Jesuits 
refused to pay. These manuscripts were sent to the State Depart- 
ment by the Secretary of War, January 25, 1890, and were trans- 
ferred to the Library of Congress in 1906. 

Royal decrees concerning the descendants of Montezuma, 1709-1713. 

Two transcripts of diaries; Diario del Padre Font, Diario del Padre Garces. 

Report of Admiral de Loria to the governor of Mexico, giving schedule of 
wages for a marine expedition, 1745 (10 pages). 

Reales cedulas y ordenes, 1770-1796 (3 vols, of contemporary transcripts). 



260 Library of Congress. 

Decrees (chiefly 1820-18 if.) and miscellaneous documents including a copy 
of tin Mexican constitution of 1830, mostly broadside material (1 
vol.). 

Journals and diaries of travels in Mexico and California, 1819 (5 vols., 
including sketch books, etc.). 

Honduras: Remarks upon the treaty between Great Britain and Spain, 1070. 

Nicaragua: Wheeler, History of Nicaragua, with notes on conditions in 1808. 

Wt»i Indies. 

Memori a General de loa generos que se comcrzian a esta ciudad de Cadiz — 
como para el embarque de las Flotas, que Balen para las Indias (l 
rci). 

Delmonte collection, 1502—1871 (2 vols, and 1 bundles). Transcripts and 
original documents, many from the Cuban archives. Obtained by 
the library at the sale of tlic collection of Domingo Delmonte y 
Aponte. See descriptive list in I.. M. l'erez, "Guide to the Mate- 
rials for American History in Cuban Archives" (Washington, 1907), 
pp. 122-130. 

Relation do voiage a I'Amcrique, 1710-1713 (1 vol.). 

Capture of Havana, 1762; Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Moneypenny's 
journal. 

" Pacification of the island of Cuba, 1730 " (1 vol.). 

South America. 

Antonio de Vea, " Relacion del Viage de 1070 ", being a journal of an 
expedition along the west coast of South America. 

Herrera y I.oizaga, " Viares [*«c] de Espana a Buenos Ayres, Chili, . . . ", 
1713-1717; a transcript in one volume. 

Creole revolution in Buenos Ayres, 1780-1781; a manuscript account. 

Four reports by a Trench secret service agent, Brivezac, on the condition 
of the Spanish colonies in South America, 1817-1818. 

Diary of a voyage along the west coast of Central and South America, 1849. 
In Spanish ; anonymous. 

Miscellaneous decrees, regulations, papers, letters, tracts, and other docu- 
ments relating to South America and to Spanish dominion therein. 

Dutch Colonies. 

Miscellaneous historical documents, 1049-1050. 

Dutch West India Company. Extracts of resolutions, minutes of pro- 
ceedings, etc., 1059-1075 (80 pages, in Dutch), also miscellaneous 
papers relating to the company, Portugal and Brazil, etc., 1049— 
1655(F). 

French Colonies. 

Jesuit Relations, 1032-1072 (1 vol.). 



Division of Manuscripts. 261 

" Guerres du Canada et de lTndependance et analyses des negociations entre 

la France et les autres puissances de l'Europe ", 1748—1788. 
Plan for the expulsion of French settlers from the Ohio country, 1757. 

English Colonies. 

Opinions of Richard West upon plantation affairs, 1682-1725. 

Documents relating to the equipment of the British forces in North America, 
1728—1792; 131 documents containing 500 pages, including many 
papers signed by George II. and George III. and their secretaries. 

British forces in America. Papers, letters, memoranda, etc., relating to 
the victualling of troops, 1760-1789 (146 pieces). 

Diaries of two prisoners among the French, 1745—1750 (2 vols.). 

Memorial of the Stamp Act Congress to the House of Lords, 1765. 

Letters of General Henry Seymour Conway; a volume of 159 pages con- 
taining official copies of the letters of H. S. Conway, Secretary of 
State, to the various American colonial governors during the stamp- 
act troubles, 1765-1766. 

Barbados records, 1641—1766 (11 vols.). These volumes belonged to 
Charles Pinfold, governor of Barbados; they consist of the letter- 
books of Governor Pinfold, 1756-1766 (3 vols.), Minutes of the 
Council, 1735-1766 (3 vols.), Acts of Assembly, 1643-1766 (3 vols., 
2 are printed, with manuscript notes; 1 volume in manuscript), 
Journal of Assembly, 1756-1766 (1 vol.), Royal Instructions, 1756, 
and Extracts from Minutes of Council, 1641-1739 (1 vol.). 

Vernon- Wager papers (12 vols.). This material was originally included 
in the Force collection and consists of the correspondence of Admiral 
Charles Wager and Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon, relating to naval 
operations and colonization in the West Indies. It has been cata- 
logued in " List of the Vernon- Wager Manuscripts in the Library 
of Congress " (Washington, 1904). 

Official pamphlets and manuscripts relating to boundary disputes (Georgia 
and Florida) and trade difficulties in the West Indies, between 
Great Britain and Spain, 1787-1788 (1 vol.). 

Transcripts from the British Archives. 

The Library of Congress has commenced the task of copying a large 
amount of material in the British archives relating to America. To the 
close of 1907 the following volumes and bundles in the British Museum 
and the Public Record Office (or those parts of them relating to America) 
had been transcribed, together with parts of others. 

British Museum (Kings MSS.) : 

213. Journal of an Officer in the West Indies, 1764-1765. 

203. Letters, Rev. Dr. Cooper to Dr. Franklin, 1769-1775, on American Politics. 



262 Library of Congress. 

202. Letters, Governor Pownall to Rev. Dr. Cooper, 1769-1774, on American 

Politics. 
206. State of Manufactures; Land, mode of granting; Fees of Offices in 

America. 
205. Reports on the state of the American Colonics. 
British Museum (Bgertoo MSS.): 

2395. Documents collected lij Thomas l'ovcy, tump. Cromwell and Charles II. 
i!» n. Invention of Water Bellows; Watts'a Steam Engine. 
2168. Inventory of papers of William l'cnn. 

25 .'ti. Journals of .1. knepp on 11. M. S. "Hose", etc. 1683-1684. 
2135. Letters and papers relating to the war in America. 1771-1781. 
MB. lord Halifax's papers, WW 1761. 

1134 (part). Oliver(r), Origin and Progress of the American War. 
British Musculo (Hargrsvc MSS.): 

Cases and Opinions, legal and genealogical papers, from vols. 141, 231, 275, 
293, 408, 104 
British Museum (llarleian MSS.): 

.\ II. Discourse of Trade. 1622. 
j III. Sanderson, Of a State Merchant. 
5101. Strong's Voyage to the South Seas. 1689-1691. 
British Museum (Lansdowne mss.) : 
809. Choctaw Indians. 

822. Letters to Henry Cromwell, lord deputy of Ireland. 
661. Tobacco Seizures. 1732-1760. 
British Museum (Sloanc MSS.): 

Orders and Letters relating to Annapolis, Nova Scotia, under Gov. Samuel 
Vetch, l T 1 1 1713. 
British Museum (Additional MSS.): 

14034. America, Africa, and the Canaries, and the West Indies. 1696-1786. 
974". America, papers relating to. 1698-1705. 

22680. America, miscellaneous papers relating to, etc. 

14035. Board of Trade and Plantations. 1710-1789. 
513S. Debates in Parliament, 1654-1658. 

15485. Exports and imports of North America. 1768-1769. 
15493. Gardner, Dr., Ohservations on Newfoundland. 

14038. Graves, Vice-Admiral R., Conduct in America, 1774-1776, vol. I. 
35909-35912. Hardwick Papers. Vols. DLXI.-DLXIV. American Plantations, 

to 1783. 
15895. Hyde Papers and Correspondence, 1688-1709. 

15898, and part of 17018. Hyde Papers, Miscellaneous, America and West Indies. 
15483. List of Councils in North America. 1703-1711. 
22129. List of Official Appointments, 1780. 
15488. Maine. Kennebec River, 1752-1762. 
15487. Massachusetts and Connecticut, Boundary line of, 1735-1754. 

15486. Massachusetts, papers relating to, 1720-1724. 
11514. Memorial to Lord Halifax on North America. 

6807, 6816, 6825. Mitchell Papers. Vols. IV., XIII., XXII. Letters of Sir 
Andrew Mitchell, 1757-1762, and Dispatches of Lord 
Holdernesse, 1758. 
22617. Navy, official papers relating to. 1688-1715. (Folios 134-149.) 



Division of Maomscripts. 263 

33028-33030. Newcastle Papers. Vols. CCCXLIII.-CCCXLV. 

America and West Indies. Vols. I.-III. 1701-1802. 
28089. New England, etc. Seventeenth Century. 
15489. New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Pa., Md., N. Y., etc. 
22679. New York, 1764-1768. 

11411. Povey, T. Register of Letters relating to the West Indies, 1655-1660. 
15896. Revenue and Customs. Vol. V. 1679-1705. 
9764. Shipping and Trade. (All papers selected relate to America.) 
Public Record Office: 

Admiralty, High Court: 

Instance and Prize Libel Files. Bundles 73, 80, 81, 82, 88, 91-94, 98, 107, 
108: various nos. 
Admiralty, Secretary: 

In-Letters, 480. Admirals Warren, Watson and Townsend. 
481. Admirals Boscawen, Hardy and Durell. 
" 482. Admiral Colville. 

" 483. Commodore Hood. 

" 484. Admirals Montagu and Shuldham. 

" 485. Admiral Graves. 

486. Commodore Peter Parker, Admirals Byron and Arbuthnot. 

487, 488. Admiral Howe. 

489. Admirals Gambier, Graves and Ogle. 
" 3817-3820. Governors of Plantations. 

America and West Indies. Vol. 58. Canadian Expedition. 1710-1713. 
" " Vol. 61. Expedition to Cartagena, 1741. 

" " " " Vol. 63. Canadian Expedition. 1746. 

Treasury: 

37 and 38. Blathwayt's Journal. (Complete.) 

II. United States. 

General. 

Peter Force transcripts. These are the volumes of transcripts included in 
the collection of Force's papers purchased in 1867. The remainder 
of the collection has been distributed, its various parts being placed 
in their appropriate places among the manuscripts of the Library. 
A full account of the entire collection is in the " Special Report of 
the Librarian of Congress to the Joint Committee on the Library 
concerning the Historical Library of Peter Force, esqr." (Wash- 
ington, 1867). The following list is of the volumes of transcripts 
relating mostly to the Revolution that are kept together as the 
" Peter Force transcripts ". Descriptions of the other papers, form- 
erly a part of the collection, are included among the various items 
below, but the connection with the Peter Force collection is not 
indicated. 

New Hampshire, 1697-1790 (16 vols.). 
Vermont, 1761-1785 (7 vols.). 
Massachusetts, 1775-1778 (39 vols.). 
Rhode Island, 1653-1777, 1844 (2 vols.). 



204 Library of Congress. 

One volume libelled "Gordon Trial, 1844." 
Connecticut, 1<",37-1787 (4 Tola.). 
New York. 1775-1778 (88 vols.). 
Pennsylvania, 1778—1778 (t vols.). 
Maryland, 1758 ittt (5 vols.). 
North Carolina, 1774 1778 (1 vol.). 
South Carolina, lc«;:5-i 77i» (J vols.). 
Gt orgia, 1788- 1885 (8 vols.). 

The above volumes consist mainly of transcripts of legislative and 
executive papers from the archives of the several states. Most of 
the documents are of the Revolutionary period. Some of the Ver- 
mont papers relate to the New Hampshire and New York claims, 

and one volume of the Georgia papers relates to Indian affairs. 

The remainder of the collection of transcripts consists for the 
most part of the papers of individuals, almost entirely of Revolution- 
ary bearing. 

Frenci War, 1758-1780 (l vol.). 
Privateers and Prisoners, 1775-1782 (1 vol.). 

From the Shaw manuscripts. 

Armstrong papers, 1768—1814 (l vol.). 

Bi [knap papers (3 vols.). 

Originals in New Hampshire Historical Society. See Massachusetts 
Historical Society Collections, series 5, volumes II., III.; series 6, 
volume IV. 
I!' rnard, Francis, papers, 17G8-1709 (1 vol.). 

Originals in Sparks collection, Harvard University Library. 
Gage, Thomas, letters, 1759-1774 (1 vol.). 
Garth. Charles, 1766-1774 (1 vol.). 
Gates, Horatio, orderly-book, July, November, 1776. 
Gist, Mordecai, 1777-1779 (1 vol.). 
Glen, Henry, 1777-1780 (1 vol.). 
Gray, Samuel, correspondence, 1777-1781 (1 vol.). 

Originals in library of Connecticut Historical Society. 
Hand, Edward, letters, 1775-1 784 (4 vols.). 

One volume contains the correspondence of Edward Hand and 
Jasper Yeates. 

Ingersoll, Jared, 1745-1779 (1 vol.). 
Lamb, John, 1777-1781 (1 vol.). 

Originals in library of New York Historical Society. Printed in 
part in " Memoir of the Life and Times of General John Lamb ", 
by Isaac Q. Leake (Albany, 1857). 
St. Clair, Arthur, 1772-1791 (1 vol.). 



Division of Manuscripts. 265 

Originals in Ohio State Library, but the present volume contains 
some documents that have been lost from among the originals, and are 
not printed in " Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair " by 
William H. Smith (Cincinnati, 1882). 
Stewart, Charles, 1777-1782 (1 vol.). 

Originals in library of Connecticut Historical Society. 
Stewart, Walter, 1776-1783 (1 vol.). 
Stiles, Ezra, 1758-1790 (4 vols.). 

Including his diary, 1770-1790, in three volumes. 
Stirling, William Alexander, earl of, 1774-1782 (2 vols.). 

Originals, so far as known to exist, are in library of New Jersey 
Historical Society; many have been lost and these transcripts alone 
remain. Portions of the correspondence are published in New Jersey 
Historical Society Collections, volume II. 
Sullivan, John, 1775-1789 (3 vols.). 

One volume is entitled "Sullivan at Staten Island, 1777". 
Trumbull, Jonathan, 1710-1785 (28 vols.). 

Printed in Massachusetts Historical Society Collection, series 5, 
volumes IX., X. 
Tucker, Samuel, 1777-1781 (1 vol.). 

Originals in Harvard University Library. 
Weare, Meshech, 1777-1780 (1 vol.). 
Whipple, William, 1777-1779 (1 vol.). 

Some originals in library of Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 
Winder, William H., 1812-1814 (1 vol.). 
Stevens Catalogue Index. This is B. F. Stevens's " Catalogue Index of 
Manuscripts in the Archives of England, France, Holland, and 
Spain relating to America, 1763-1783 ". The work is in 180 manu- 
script volumes and contains the titles of 161,000 documents. Each 
title is entered three times: once in the " Catalogue ", which fills 50 
volumes, and contains the titles in the order of their original arrange- 
ment in the archives ; a second time in the " Chronological Index ", 
of 100 volumes, which contains the titles in chronological order, with 
a brief abstract of each document; and a third time in the " Alpha- 
betical Index ", of 30 volumes, in which the titles are entered alpha- 
betically according to the names of writers and receivers, or accord- 
ing to the subject-matter if no writer or receiver is named. See 
Annual Report of Librarian of Congress, 1906, pp. 27—31. 
Calendar, by B. F. Stevens, of papers relating to German troops ( Branden- 
burg- Anspach) in the American Revolution, 1777—1782, in the Public 
Record Office (Treasury, Miscel. Various, Bundle 248). 
Continental Congress papers. These are the records of the general gov- 



266 Library of Congress. 

ernment under the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1789, and 
consist of the journals of the Congress, reports and minutes of com- 
mittal's, correspondence, papers of the executive departments, papers 
that came before Congress, such as petitions and memorials, etc. An 
imentorv of these papers is printed in " Bulletin of the Bureau of 
Rolls atiil Library ", no. 1, and also in the Annual Report of the 
American Historical Association for 1894 (pp. 554—559) reprinted 
from S. 1.x. Doc. 22, 53 Cong., 3 scss. An older inventory is " Cata- 
logue of Manuscript Books deposited in the Archives of the Depart- 
ment of State, 1774-1789" (Washington, 1835; enlarged edition, 
'■). A general description of the collection by Herbert Frieden- 
R .Id is printed in the Annual Report of the American Historical 
Association for 1890 (pp. 85-180), while an index to part of the 
collection is contained in " Bulletins of the Bureau of Rolls and 
Library ", nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, under the heading " Miscellaneous 
Index ", and a manuscript index accompanies the collection. Many 
papers in this collection are included in the list of " Naval Records 
of the American Revolution, 1775-1783", prepared from the orig- 
inals in the Library of Congress, by C. H. Lincoln (Washington, 
1900); others in "Calendars of the Correspondence of George 
Washington with the Continental Congress ", by J. C. Fitzpatrick, 
volume I. (Washington, 190c). This collection with the exception 
of such papers as were in the Library of Congress prior to 1904 
(notably a letter-book of the Marine Committee, 177(5-1780) was 
originally in the Bureau of Rolls and Library, State Department, 
but in 1904 was transferred, with the exception of the diplomatic 
papers (nos. 5, 79-130, 135, 175, 170, and 187, in the inventory in 
"Bulletin of Bureau of Rolls and Library", no. 1) to the Library 
of Congress. The collection in the library is in 385 volumes. Little 
of it has been printed, except the papers included in Force's " Ameri- 
can Archives ", the journals, and the diplomatic correspondence, 
which latter however, as has been noted, is not included in the collec- 
tion in the librar)'. The most important publication yet commenced 
is that by the Library of Congress of the " Journals of the Conti- 
nental Congress", edited by W. C. Ford. To the close of 1907, 
volumes I.— IX. (1774-1777) of this publication had appeared. Not 
only do they contain the journals, printed in full for the first time, 
but they include much other material, drawn from the collection for 
editorial purposes. For bibliographical accounts of the Continental 
Congress, P. L. Ford's " Bibliography of the Continental Congress ", 
in Boston Public Library Bulletin, VIII. 320-323, and Mr. Frieden- 
wald's article, noted above, should be consulted. 



Division of Manuscripts. 267 

Miscellaneous civil and military papers of the Revolution, 1774-1783 (7 
vols.). 

Revolutionary navy: accounts of naval agent, William Bartlett (1 vol. and 
about 100 unbound pieces). 

Loyalist papers : A Record of the Proceedings of the Loyalist Commissioners, 
presented to the Smithsonian Institution in 1874 by Major General 
Lefroy, and transferred to the Library of Congress. There are 34 
volumes giving the testimony taken at Lincoln's Inn Fields, Halifax, 
St. John, Quebec, Montreal, Carleton Island, and Niagara, 1783- 
1789, on the losses and services of American Loyalists during the 
Revolution. The thirty-fifth volume contains the reports of the 
Commission from 1784 to 1790. These are printed entire in the 
Second Report of the Bureau of Archives for the Province of Ontario, 
by Alexander Fraser, 1904 (Toronto, 1905). 

Muster-rolls, returns, etc., of certain Massachusetts regiments in the Conti- 
nental Army, 1776-1783 (11 vols.). 

Muster-roll of a company of the Fifth Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers, 
British Provincial Troops, November, 1777. 

Hazen, Moses. Muster-roll and lists of recruits, men receiving supplies, 
absentees, etc. (2 vols.). 

Memorandum-book of horses delivered to the quartermaster-general's de- 
partment, May, 1779-March, 1783 (1 vol.), kept by Archibald 
Ramsey and Zephaniah Halsey. Transferred from Bureau of Rolls 
and Library, State Department. 

Contingent account of expense of First Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers, 
British Provincial Troops, December 25, 1781-June 24, 1782. 

A number of orderly-books, including that of the Fifteenth Continental 
Regiment, Cambridge, July 19-September 22, 1775. 

Orderly-book of John Lining, April 2-30, 1776 (1 vol.). 

Orderly-book, by Sergeant Peter Dolson, July 29-September 12, 1776 (1 
vol., transferred from Bureau of Rolls and Library, State Depart- 
ment). Contains headquarters orders, and the orders of Colonel 
Rudolphus Ritzema's third New York Regiment. 

Orderly-books of Captain Robert Walker's Company, Second Continental 
Artillery (3 vols., transferred from Bureau of Rolls and Library, 
State Department). These contain general, brigade, division, and 
company orders, and cover various periods between June 8, 1777, 
and November 9, 1780. 

Orderly-book of John Mayson, June 23, 1778-May 1, 1779 (1 vol.). 

Forton prisoners' manuscripts, 1777-1779 (2 vols., transferred from 
Bureau of Rolls and Library, State Department). A manuscript 
book entitled " Sailor Songs of the Forton Prisoners, England, 



268 Library of Congress. 

1778", ami a journal (1777-177!)), kept perhaps by Timothy 
Connor, and printed in the " New England Historical and Genealog- 
ical Register ", commencing in volume XXX., p. 174. 

British secret service. Memorandum-book of daily intelligence, secret 
agents, payments, etc., kept at British headquarters July 21-Novem- 
her 10 [1778]. Information relating to American movements, atti- 
tude of committees, Indians, supplies. General Charles Lee, etc. 
Transferred from Bureau of Rollfl and Library, State Department 

I i roL). 

Clinton-Cornwallifl controversy. A collection of ten volumes and 54 
pamphlets, all having marginal annotations by Clinton. Such works 
as Clinton's " Narrative of the Expedition . . . against Sullivan's 
[aland, 1 7 7 • ; ". Bnrgoyne's " State of the Expedition from Canada" 
London, 1780), Kamsay's "History of the American Revolution" 
| London, 17'i| i, " Memoirs of General Charles Lee", etc., are in- 
eluded. Transferred from Bureau of Rolls and Library, State De- 
partment. 

One volume of 1 1 manuscripts relating to the Ercnch army in America, 1780. 

Deposition of Pan! Jappie, regarding the capture of his ship " Free Trade ", 
1781. 

Revolutionary broadsides. Photographs of 8(5 originals in the Massa- 
chusetts Historical Society. 

Transcripts relating to the Peace of 1783. Thirty-seven boxes containing 
over 10,000 pages of transcripts from English and French archives 
relating to the Peace of 1783 between the United States and Great 
Britain. The work of selecting and copying the documents in- 
cluded in this collection was performed by B. F. Stevens. 

Ledger of the Society of the Cincinnati, 1784—1810, and the original list 
(incomplete) of subscribers to that society in Virginia, 1783. 

Post-Office records, 1781—1811 (9 vols.). These are accounts, ledgers, etc., 
and were transferred from the Treasury Department, office of auditor 
for the Post-Office Department. 

Minutes of the Annapolis Convention of 1786, with the signatures of its 
members. 

Papers relating to the Ordinance of 1787, dated from 1785 to 1788. 

Madison's notes of debates in the Federal Convention of 1787; a transcript 
in one quarto volume. 

William Paterson's plan for a constitution of the United States, and notes 
taken in the Federal Convention (printed in " American Historical 
Review", IX. 310 ff.). 

Papers relating to the settlement of the Northwest Territory, including 
letters and papers of Governor Arthur St. Clair, 1788-1793. 



Division of Manuscripts. 269 

Journal of the brigantine " Hope ", Joseph Ingraham, captain, during an 
exploring voyage from Boston to the northwest coast of America, 
1790-1792 (4 vols.). The journal was used by Greenhow in his 
" History of Oregon and California ", pp. 226-228. It is interesting 
but does not seem to have great historical value. Transferred from 
the Bureau of Rolls and Library, State Department. 

Transcripts of papers on diplomatic negotiations with Great Britain respect- 
ing Eastern boundary, 1796-1798 (3 vols.). 

James Wilkinson's orders issued at New Orleans and in Mississippi, 1797- 
1807. 

Colonel J. F. Hamtramck's standing orders at Detroit, 1802 (1 vol.). 

Letters from William Eaton to Hamet, Bashaw of Tripoli, 1804. 

Burr's conspiracy and Spanish relations, 1806-1816 (1 vol., transferred 
from Bureau of Rolls and Library, State Department). The first 
part of the volume contains letters bearing on Burr's conspiracy, 
which are especially significant for the latter phase (see W. F. Mc- 
Caleb's "The Aaron Burr Conspiracy", preface). The remainder 
of the volume contains the correspondence of Toledo, Ira Allen, 
Gutierrez, Picornell, and others, relating to the Mexican revolution, 
a report to the Spanish Cortes in December, 1812, a memoir (1814) 
for Ferdinand VI L, memorandum of an interview between Monroe 
and Bernabue (1811), etc. 

Log-book of the merchant ship " Lexington ", Timothy Gardner, master ; 
New York to Bremen, and Amsterdam to Baltimore, 1807-1808 (1 
vol.). Transferred from Bureau of Rolls and Library, State De- 
partment. 

Log-book of the " Chesapeake", May 21, 1807-February 21, 1809. 

John Henry's papers relating to the New England intrigue of 1809-1812 
(94 pieces, transferred from the Bureau of Rolls and Library, State 
Department) . Henry was an agent sent by the Governor-General of 
Canada. The papers were purchased by Madison (see " Messages 
and Papers of the Presidents", I. 498). 

Fort Independence, Boston, garrison orders, 1814, with a roll of Moses L. 
Humphrey's militia company. 

Sir Charles Napier's narrative of operations on the Potomac, 1814. 

Papers relating to the Foxardo affair, 1824, including letters of James 
Monroe, Secretary Southard, and Commodore Porter (10 manu- 
scripts). 

Lists of American soldiers confined at the City of Mexico by the provost, 
1847 (1 vol.). 

Papers relating to the negotiations between Mexico and the United States, 
1848. 



270 I.ihrar// of Congress. 

Log-book of the " Lewifl ". May 1;-,, 1840-January 7, 1853 (1 vol.). 

Log-book of* the U. S. S. " Santee ", 1801-1802 (2 vols.). 

General courts-martial held in the Union Army, 18(53-1804. 

Minutes of the Society of the Army of the Potomac, 1800-1877 (1 vol.). 

Confederate States. 

State Department records (10 vols, and 74 packages, transferred from 
Treasury Department). This collection of diplomatic and consular 
papers and correspond) sice, Is known as the " Pickett papers ", and 

is described by .'. If. Callahan, in his article on " The Pickett 
Papers", in the "South Atlantic Quarterly", for January, 1903. 
A list of the papers is printed in the first edition (1004) of this 
"Guide", pp. 43— 17; luil most of the diplomatic papers have since 

been printed in .'. I). Richardson's " Messages and Papers of the Con- 
lYder u v. including the Diplomatic Correspondence " (Nashville, 
1005). The diplomatic papers consist of the despatches and other 
communications from the representatives of the Confederate States 
in Great Britain, France, Belgium, Spain, Mexico, Russia, and the 
States of the Church (Yancey, Rost, Mann, Mason, Slidell, Fearn, 
Bishop Lynch, Pickett, Preston, Rieken, Cripps, and General Huger). 
There are communications and despatches from consular, confidential, 
and other agents in London, Paris, Havana, Matamoros, Vera Cruz, 
New Leon and Coalmila, Nassau, N. P., St. George's, Bermuda, Cork, 
Ireland generally, and Canada. There is also one volume containing 
the record of instructions and despatches to consuls, confidential and 
other foreign agents, one volume containing the record of commissions 
to foreign agents, and six volumes of instructions and despatches to 
representatives in Great Britain, France, Spain, Belgium, Rome, 
Russia, Canada, Mexico, Havana, and Monterey. It should be noted 
that the records of the commission to Washington, 1801, which are 
part of the " Pickett papers ", were retained in the Treasury Depart- 
ment (see above, p. 73). 
Post-Office Department records, 1801-1805 (10 vols, and 4 bundles, trans- 
ferred from the Post-Office Department). These are: Record, Jour- 
nal, and Orders, March 0, 1801 -March 20, 1802 (1 vol.); Record of 
letters and other communications from the Postmaster-General, 
March 7, 1801-October 12, 1803 (1 vol.), 1 containing copies of in- 
structions as to the new regime, of letters to Confederate generals, 
of correspondence with railroad officials, and of communications as 

1 This is one of the letter-books of John H. Reagan which at the time of pub- 
lishing his " Memoirs " (Washington, 1906) was not known to be extant. The other 
and later volume is in the Pay Division of the office of the auditor for the Post- 
Office Department (see above, p. 95). 



Division of Manuscripts. 271 

to spies, the transfer of letters between North and South, etc; 
Letter-books of appointment bureau, April 6, 1861-January 17, 1865 
(4 vols.) ; Lists of post-offices and postmasters (2 vols.) ; Mail con- 
tracts in "Mississippi, volume I.; Register of auditor's office, no. 2, 
1862; and 4 bundles of proposals, fines, and deductions, 1861-1864. 

A collection of 458 original acts passed by the Confederate Congress, 1861- 
1864. 

Custom-house papers. Five letter-books containing the correspondence of 
the collector of the port of Savannah with the Confederate Treasury 
Department, 1861-1864. 

Papers of Governors Francis W. Pickens and Milledge L. Bonham of South 
Carolina relating to the war, 1860—1864 (manuscripts, printed ma- 
terial, telegrams, etc.). 

Vouchers for supplies purchased for the C. S. S. " Sumter ", signed by 
Raphael Semmes, 1861 (15 manuscripts). 

Military papers. Muster-rolls, 1861-1864 (53 pieces); quartermasters' 
vouchers, 1861-1865 (244 pieces); miscellaneous quartermasters' 
papers (81 documents); returns of the Army of Tennessee, 1864— 
1865 (76 documents). 

Letters from Judah P. Benjamin to Ambrose Dudley Mann, 1862-1864 (16 
manuscripts). 

General orders of General Joseph E. Johnston issued at Dalton, Georgia, 
January-April, 1864 (32 pieces, contemporary copies). 

Individual States. 
Maine. 

Custom-house records, Kennebunk, Maine, 1801-1821 (2 vols.). Corre- 
spondence with the Treasury Department. 

New Hampshire. 

Miscellaneous documents, 1629-1809. Among these papers, over 500 in 
number, are many letters of Governors John and Benning Went- 
worth, President Meshech Weare, and Secretary Waldron; royal in- 
structions to the governors of the state, and much of the Revolutionary 
correspondence which passed between the state and Continental au- 
thorities. The collection contains also many official letters respecting 
the organization and direction of the New Hampshire militia, 1775- 
1783, as well as memorials regarding the support due to the state 
government of 1776. 

Vermont. 

Official papers of 1744 (one volume of transcripts). 

Minutes of the Westminster conventions, 1776-1777 (facsimile reproduction 
in one volume). 



272 Library of Congress. 

Transcripts of the Alien ami Chittenden accounts against the state, 1777- 
1780. 

Journals of the Council of Safety, 1777-1782. 

Proceedings of the Board of War, 1778—1781. 

Contemporary attested copy of the articles of union proposed among Ver- 
mont. Massachusetts, and New York in 1781. 

Correspondence of [rs Allen, 1808—1810. 

MaxsiirhuxrHs. 

Miscellaneous documents, over 800 In numher, prior to 1780, including more 
than fifty letters and papers regarding the French and Indian War; 
■is many litters from Massachusetts governors, and circular letters 
from the General Court to other colonial assemblies. The collection 
includes letters of Joseph Warren and papers relating to the founda- 
tion or support of Harvard and Amherst colleges. A number of 
original papers of Governor Thomas Pownall should be noted. 

Transcript, by Rufus King, of the Articles of Confederation between Massa- 
chusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven, 1648—1654. 

Muster roll of colonial troops, 1744-1780, to whom the colony remained 
indebted in I 78 t. 

London merchants to merchants in the American colonies, March 18, 17GG 
(an original letter of 3 pages with 55 signatures). 

Tip. rs i roin the United States custom-house at New Bedford. 

Rhode Island. 

Documents relating to boundary dispute with Massachusetts, March 7-11, 

1664, and June, 1731. 
Correspondence of the assembly with the different states and the Continental 

Congress, 1764—1786. 

Connecticut. 

Fourteen letters of the governors of Connecticut, 1712-1781. 

Letter from the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations to the gov- 
ernor and company of Connecticut, 1764. 

Seventeen volumes of the receipt books of the Continental Loan Office for 
the state of Connecticut, 1781-1804. 

New York. 

Transcript of a short account of New Netherlands in 16G2. 
Two folio volumes of " Public Instruments and Writings ", 1664—1713. 
Memorials to the king and Parliament, 1764. 

Various letters from the Provincial Congress to its delegates in the Conti- 
nental Congress, 1775. 
Minutes of the New York City Committee, 1775-1776. 
Minutes of the Committee of Safety of Tryon County, 1777-1778. 






Division of Manuscripts. 273 

Continental Loan Office receipts, 1791-1793 (4 vols.). 

Lists of invalid pensioners, 1797-1802. 

Political and professional memorandum book of Dr. Charles D. Cooper, 

Albany, 1797-1805. 
Letter-book of Governor Daniel D. Tompkins, 1801-1811. 

New Jersey. 

Miscellaneous papers, 1676-1757. 

Sixteen pages from the town docket of Chesterfield, 1692-1711, containing 
records of town meetings and elections. 

Letters and papers relating to the proceedings of the Provincial Congress in 
1776, and to the position of Governor William Franklin at that time. 

Papers relating to East New Jersey, including a proprietors' book of ac- 
counts, 1771—1843; the rent account, in one volume, of the Ramapo 
Patent, 1787; and one volume of certificates of mislocation, 1789— 
1842. 

Pennsylvania. 

Lancaster County, Minutes of the Committee of Safety, 1774-1777, and 
correspondence with other committees, and officers both civil and 
military. 

House tax insurrection, 1799 (21 papers, transferred from Bureau of Rolls 
and Library, State Department). These papers on the insurrection 
of March and April, 1799, in Northampton and Bucks Counties, 
Pennsylvania, contain the announcement of the insurrection to Pick- 
ering by Judge Peters, March 11, 1799; the deposition of Valentine 
Fiihrer, March 9, 1799; reports of marshals; witnesses' letters; 
lists of persons convicted of treason and held under recognizance, 
and the printed proclamation of General William MacPherson, April 
5, 1799. A note on the package says that in the commission room 
are various petitions from the participants for pardon, and that 
warrants for their pardons are recorded in volume I., Book of Par- 
dons. Printed in part in American State Papers, Miscellaneous, I. 
185 ff. 

Whiskey insurrection, 1792-1796 (1 vol., transferred from Bureau of Rolls 
and Library, State Department). This bound volume of manuscripts 
contains correspondence between the President of the United States 
and Governor Mifflin of Pennsylvania; correspondence of commis- 
sioners with officers of the government, committees of citizens, etc. ; 
minutes and report of the commissioners, August-September, 1794; 
declarations of submission to the laws of the United States, sub- 
scribed to by citizens; reports of acceptance or refusal of terms of 
commissioners; general list of taxables in Allegheny County, Sep- 

19 



274 Library of Congress. 

kembex 22, lT'.U; minutes of meeting of cabinet officers at the Presi- 
dent's house in Philadelphia; applications for pardon, 1 795-1 79G; 
evidence, depositions, etc., September -October, 1792. In American 
State Papers, Miscellaneous, I. 8:5 ff., are printed the report and 
parts of the correspondence ; the minutes and most of the other ma- 
terial noted are omitted. Sec also Blaine, Kpliraim, under III, below. 

Delaware. 

A collection of manuscripts in four volumes, relating to the history of Dela- 
ware; these papen are mostly official records of the state, and include 
accounts of the Swedish settlements, the minutes of the Constitutional 
Convention of 1791, and many original letters and messages of John 
Dickinson. 

List of taxable* in four of the hundreds in New Castle County, 1776. 

Maryland, 

Minutes of the Haltimore Committee of Safely, 1774— 177G. 

Miscellaneous official papers and letters, 1 77(1-1 77!>. 

Hook of accounts of the state of Maryland, 1778-1785 (2 vols.). 

Letter-book of Intendant's Office, 1785-1787. 

Ships' papers. Manifests, clearances, passports, etc. Mainly issued in 

connection with the port of Baltimore, 1782-1812 (19 pieces). 
Sheriff's lists of inhabitants from whom chancery fees were collected, 1802- 

180«; ( 106 pieces). 
See also Creamer, David, under III, below. 

District of Columbia, 

Records of the Washington National Monument Association (8,170 manu- 
scripts). 

Library of Congress. Record of books taken out by members of Congress, 
1800-1802, 1815-182!». 

Washington Library Company, journals, 1811—1877 (3 vols.). 

Columbian Institute. Record of Proceedings, June 15, 1810— December 29, 
1838 (1 vol.). Also miscellaneous papers. 

Two plans of the House of Representatives, 1830 and 1848. 

Young Men's Christian Association of Washington City. Minutes, 1852- 
1801 (1 vol.); also two bundles of miscellaneous scraps, clippings, 
etc., relating to the association. 

Posters of the Ford and National theatres, 1874-1870 (50 pieces). 

American University. Correspondence of George Dana Boardman, 1889. 

Virginia. 1 

" Jefferson Manuscripts ", so-called because obtained at the time of the 

1 For a more detailed list of Virginia material in the Library of Congress see " Vir- 
ginia State Library. Calendar of Transcripts . . ." (1905), pp. 643-652. 



Division of Manuscripts. 275 

purchase of Jefferson's library; they cover the years 1606-1711, and 
include the following documents: 

(1) One volume of miscellaneous papers, 1606—1680. "Instruc- 
tions, Commicions, Letters of Advice and Admonition and publique 
Speeches, Proclamations, etc." (2) One volume of miscellaneous 
papers, 1606-1683, being in the main royal orders and decrees. (3) 
One volume of miscellaneous records, containing notes by Jefferson; 
this is the " Bland Manuscript " to which Hening refers. (4) The 
Records of the Virginia Company of London, 1619-1624, in two 
volumes, and one unbound volume of "Papers and Records", 1621- 
1625, consisting in the main of correspondence between the repre- 
sentatives of the London Company in Virginia and the authorities 
in England; see Annual Report of the American Historical Asso- 
ciation for 1901, I. 545. The two volumes of records have been 
published by the Library of Congress : " Records of the Virginia 
Company of London, 1619-1624", edited by Susan M. Kingsbury 
(Washington, 1906, 2 vols.). (5) Legislative Council; Orders from 
February, 1622, to November, 1627; one unbound volume. (6) 
Legislative Provincial Assembly, " Laws and Orders concluded on 
by the General Assembly, March the 5th, 1623"; one volume. 
(7) Journal of Council and Assembly, 1626—1634. This volume is 
the so-called " Edmund Randolph Manuscript " to which Hening re- 
fers. (8) "The Laws of Virginia", 1642-1662, one volume. (9) 
Minutes of the "Grand Assembly", 1652-1660. This is the so- 
called "Jefferson Manuscript" to which Hening refers. (10) Acts 
of the Assembly, 1660-1697, 1662-1702, 1705, 1705-1711; four 
volumes in all. (11) A volume entitled "Foreign Business and In- 
quisitions", 1665—1676, in which, however, domestic matters pre- 
dominate; a portion of the volume refers to escheats in Virginia. 
(12) Council Journal, 1698-1700; one volume. (13) Miscellaneous 
broadsides, letters, and unbound manuscripts relative to Virginia and 
dating from 1606 on. 

Ambler or Jamestown manuscripts. These consist of 125 pieces, dating 
from 1649 to the American Revolution. They comprise deeds to 
land, bonds, surveys, and other like documents, bearing the signatures 
of the earlier governors and members of the council. Historically 
they are of importance as giving descriptions of properties and land 
grants, while their personal value for family history is even greater. 

Letters of Lieutenant-Governor Dinwiddie to the Earl of Halifax. 

Tabulated imports and exports from the Rappahannock and York River dis- 
tricts, 1764-1774. 

Minutes of the Williamsburg Masonic Lodge, 1773-1779. 



276 Library of Congress. 

Papers of the United States custom-houses at Alexandria and Tappahan- 
nock. 

North Carolina, 

A list of estimates of allowances due members of the assembly in 1756. 

Instructions from the Provincial Congress to its delegates to the Continental 

Congn ss, I 7 7 • ", . 
1 i Iters .mil resolutions relating to the Constitutional Convention of 1788. 

South Carolina. 

Acts of the Legislature, 1701-1729 (12 manuscripts). 

A petition of the merchants ■ind freeholders to the provincial legislature, 

1766. 
Commission to Colonel William Moultrie from the Provincial Congress, 1775. 
The presentments of the grind jurors of George Town district, 1770. 
A \oluuie of papers relating to the evacuation of Charleston, 1782. 
Resolves of the Planters' meeting of 1786. 
Signed pledge of certain inhabitants of St. Thomas and St. Dennis parishes 

to maintain the credit of paper currency, 1780. 
Miscellaneous documents: election returns, 1882-1880; records of votes of 

the legislature. 1804-1859; petition against duelling, etc. (18 

pieces, manuscripts and broadsides.) 

Georgia. 

A collection of official pamphlets and manuscripts relating to difficulties 

between Spain and England regarding the Georgia-Florida boundary, 

mostly in Spanish, 1730-1739 (1 vol.). 
Executive proclamations. 1754—1778 (copies, 1 vol.). 
Minutes of the Masonic Lodge of Savannah, 1757. 
Official correspondence with the Continental Congress in May, 1770. 
Treason act, 1780 ( I vol.). 

Papers from the United States custom-house at Savannah, 1787-1800. 
Papers relating to the slave yacht "Wanderer", 1858-1800, twenty-six 

manuscripts. 

Florida. 

Transcripts of documents in the Biblioteca Colombiana at Seville, relating to 
the Spanish occupation of Florida. These transcripts, 327 in num- 
ber, were made by Miss A. M. Brooks, and are accompanied by 
translations. Only three appear to have been printed. 

Spanish archives of Florida, 1783-1821 (about 05,000 pieces). These 
were transferred by the Interior Department from the office of the 
surveyor-general in Tallahassee. There is such material as corre- 
spondence with British authorities, councils of war, royal regulations 
and orders, documents relating to the delivery of East Florida to 



Division of Manuscripts. 277 

the United States, papers relating to the embargo and revolution of 
1795, memorials and concessions, oaths of allegiance, plans of fortifi- 
cations and public buildings, proclamations and edicts, secret corre- 
spondence of the Captain-General of Havana, much correspondence 
of the Captain-General with the home government, the Viceroy of 
Mexico, and subordinate officers, and papers relating to Indian 
presents, Louisiana, Pensacola, Apalache, negro titles, negro run- 
aways, etc., etc. 

Louisiana. 

Penicaud, " Relation concernant les etablissements des Frangais a la Loui- 

siane", 1698-1721 (1 vol.). 
Paul Alliot, "Reflexions historiques et politiques sur la Louisiane", 1804 

(1 vol.). 
Custis and Freeman, An account of the Red River, 1806 (1 vol.). 
Power of attorney to sell slaves, February 18, 1815. 
Bill of sale of slaves, September 17, 1852. 
Various papers relating to civil suits, 1864-1865. 

Mississippi. 1 

Military affairs in Mississippi. Bills, certificates of destruction of prop- 
erty, correspondence, etc., 1862—1868 (21 pieces). 

Kentucky. 

A number of papers relating to transactions in slaves ; bills of sale, deeds of 

transfer, emancipation papers, records of time of hired slaves, etc., 

1797-1856. 
Inventory of estate of Robert T. Gilmore, February 6, 1835 (15 pages). 

Texas. 

Fr. Francisco Garcia Figueroa, " Documentos para la historia ecclesiastica 

y civil de la provincia de Texas " (2 vols.). 
Morfi, Historia de Texas, 1780-1781. 

New Mexico. 

Zuni Indians. Records and history of the pueblo at Zuiii, 1732-1734, with 

the records of births, marriages and deaths at the Zuni mission from 

1775 (3 vols.). 
Spanish and Mexican archives, recently brought from the land office in Santa 

Fe to the Library of Congress (see Annual Report of Librarian of 

Congress, 1903, pp. 26-27, 1904, p. 60). 

Porto Rico. 

Spanish archives. The archives of Porto Rico were brought to Washington 
soon after the American occupation, were examined by the War De- 

1 For a fuller list of Mississippi material in the Library of Congress see Publica- 
tions of the Mississippi Historical Society, volume V. (1902), pp. 91, 92. 



278 Library of Congress. 

pertinent, and certain parts of them selected to be preserved in the 
Library of Congress. The remainder were returned to Porto Rico. 

(• ii a in. 

Keoords of Guam. These records, transferred from the Navy Department, 
are fragmentary and have suffered much from neglect. They in- 
clude many papers of value, especially the volumes of the orders of 
Governor Don Manuel Biuro, 1794-1800, and some court records. 
Ili-iuri.i de lis [alas Marianas desde llcgada de los Espanoles hasta hoy 
15 de Mayo 1870", by Filipa Maria de la Corte y Ruano Calderon 
(a typewritten transcript of iu8 pages). 

Philippine Island.*. 

Broadsides, 1895—1800 (S3 pieces). Fetes, general orders, proclamations, 

addresses, etc. Listed [n Annual Report of Librarian of Congress, 

1805, pp. n;-i7. 

III. Personal Papers. 

For other personal papers see above under "Peter Force transcripts", pp. 264, 265. 

.Id, mix. John QuillCtf. 

Twenty-eight letters (A. L. S.), to Alexander H. Everett, 1811-1837, and 
five htters to ELobert Walsh, jr., 1822-183G. Many of the former were 
printed in the American Historical Review, vol. XL 

Allen. William. 

This collection contains about 1,000 pieces (1825-1879) and bears mainly 
upon Allen's service as United States senator, 1837-1848, and as governor 
of Ohio, 1874—1870. There are letters on political matters in Ohio, papers 
bearing on land surveys and settlements, and the minutes of meetings and 
muster-rolls of the Chillicothe Light Infantry Blues, 1821-1834. 

Atlee f mi, Hi/, 1769-1816. 

Correspondence of William Augustus and Samuel John Atlee. 

Barry, John, 1782-1801. 

This collection includes the muster-book of the "Alliance", 1782-1783, 
a letter-book for the same period and miscellaneous letters to Barry from 
James McHenry (1707-1798), Benjamin Stoddert (1798-1800), Robert 
Smith (1801), Robert Morris (1782-1783), Thomas Barclay (1782-1783), 
and Benjamin Walker (1786). There is also a power of attorney given 
by the officers of the " Alliance " to Barry, in 1782, and an account against 
the " Alliance " for 1783-1784. 

Blaine, Ephraim, 1766-1805. 

This collection relates to the commissary business of the Continental 
army, Colonel Blaine having been for a long time deputy and commissary 
general of purchases. There are also many accounts relating to the Whiskey 



Division of Manuscripts. 279 

Insurrection; also memorandum and receipt books, 1782-1784 (2 vols.) and 
letter-books, 1777-1783. 

Blennerhassett, Harman. 

This collection contains 400 manuscripts and includes Blennerhassett's 
diary in the Richmond Penitentiary, and his speech in his defense against 
the charge of treason. 

Bourne, Sylvanus. 

Bourne was for some years in commerce and became United States consul 
at Amsterdam. The papers cover a period of more than 40 years, beginning 
in 1776, and comprise more than 4,000 documents, of which 500 are drafts 
of letters and papers in Bourne's writing, and contain memorials to the 
Dutch government, despatches to the Department of State, letters to other 
consular officers, to merchants, and to others. Of the letters to Bourne 
several series from his colleagues in the consular service and from others are 
of note. There are 7 letters from John Appleton, consul at Calais, 30 from 
Lawson Alexander at Rotterdam, 31 from Richard Coleman, Paris, 45 from 
George R. Curtis, Rotterdam, 21 from H. H. Duncan, Amsterdam, 21 from 
John M. Forbes, Hamburg, 51 from Joseph Forman, Rotterdam, 16 from 
George J. Gregory, Campveere, 7 from James Maury, Liverpool, 81 from 
Joseph Pitcairn, Hamburg, 22 from Jacob Ridgway, Antwerp, 19 from J. 
Robertson, Antwerp, 15 from H. Rohan, Flushing, and 350 from William 
Worsdall, the Helder. There are also 76 letters from William Vans Murray, 
minister to Holland, 41 from J. C. Mountflorence, 26 from David B. Warden, 
25 from Jonathan Russell, 10 from Levett Harris, 10 from James Swan, 
3 from Christopher Gore, as well as letters from Gallatin, J. A. Bayard, 
G. W. Erving, and others. In addition there are about 700 forms, accounts, 
advertisements, and Dutch papers. The papers are full of family and 
political interest. Current political news from America and from many 
parts of Europe, news of depredations on American commerce especially from 
1794 to 1814, the progress of the Napoleonic wars, and other matters fill 
much of the correspondence. See Annual Report of the Librarian of 
Congress, 1904, pp. 52-53. 

Breckinridge papers. 

About 30,000 papers covering the years 1774-1905, and including the 
papers of John Breckinridge (1760-1806), John Breckinridge, his son 
(1797-1841), Reverend Robert J. Breckinridge (1800-1871), and William 
C. P. Breckinridge (1837-1905). These papers are of unusual value and 
bear closely on Kentucky and national history. The family correspondence 
is extensive, but papers relating to social and political matters predominate. 

Brown, Jacob. 

Letter-books, 1814-1827, giving also memoranda of the Niagara cam- 
paign, 1814 (3 vols.). 



280 Library of Congress. 

Broun, James. 

About 500 Letters and documents, 1777-1810, forming a part of the 
papers of Senator James Brown of Louisiana. The larger part of the 
collection consists of legal documents, and bears especially upon court pro- 
cedure in the early days of the American occupation of Louisiana, and on 
BOCiaJ conditions in the new territory. 

Calhoun, Joint ('. 

Eighteen letters (A. L. S.) to John It. Matthews, 1830-1849; letters to 
Samuel L. Southard. 1881, and to General James Winchester, 1810. See 
also the Galloway papers, below. 

Cr.rroll. Chattel. 

Account books (two volumes) of the first three Charles Carrolls, 1720 to 
about 1800, and a scrap-album containing 113 manuscripts relating to the 
family. 

Cater papers. 

Letters to Mrs. F. S. Cater from Douglas J. and Rufus W. Cater, 1859- 
1865 (50 pieces). 

Chambers, Darid. 

Letters to David Chambers from J. Q. Adams, Calhoun, Clay, Lincoln, 
Sumner, and others, 1810-18G3 (24 pieces). 

Chase, Salmon P., 1824-1873. 

The Chase papers comprise twenty-two bound volumes and over 6,300 
letters; they include his journals, 1829-1835, and 1861-1863, a diary for 
1864, his letter-books for 1833-1837 and 1867-1868, his notes on Supreme 
Court cases of 1869, his political scrap-books and commonplace books, and 
his correspondence, both letters received and copies of letters sent. The 
collection lias been calendared, and a portion of it is printed in the second 
volume of the annual report of the American Historical Association for 1902. 

Clay, Henri/. 

A scrap album containing seventeen letters of Clay, 1799—1851; also two 
letters to Robert Walsh, jr., of September 0, 1817, and April 25, 1836. 

Clayton, John M. 

The papers of John M. Clayton, of Delaware, comprise more than 1,200 
documents. Especially valuable are the diplomatic notes during the negotia- 
tion of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, and the private letters from the agents 
Abbott Lawrence, William C. Rives, and E. George Squier. There are 
some of Clayton's own writings and among the letters to him are 49 from 
John J. Crittenden, 26 from Henry Clay, 15 from Elisha Whittlesey, 10 
from James A. Bayard, 9 from Thomas H. Benton, 9 from Reverdy Johnson, 



Division of Manuscripts. 281 

8 from William H. Seward, 8 from James W. Webb, 8 from Morton Mc- 
Michael, 7 from Leslie Coombs, 7 from Robert C. Winthrop, 5 from Thomas 
Ewing, 6 from Willie P. Mangum, 6 from Daniel Webster, 7 from John 
Davis, 4 from Zachary Taylor, and 3 from Millard Fillmore. 

Closen, Baron von. 

Journal, 1780-1783, covering his stay in the United States as aide de 
camp of Rochambeau, and his visit to the West Indies (transcript in 2 vols.). 

Cockburn, Martin. 

Day-book and ledger for the years 1767-1818. The entries are in Cock- 
burn's own hand and contain accounts with prominent Virginians, such as 
Richard Henry Lee, George W. Fairfax, George Mason, and others. 

Corwin, Thomas. 

Twelve volumes of the correspondence of Thomas Corwin when Secretary 
of the Treasury, 1850—1853. The letters number about 3,000 and consist 
entirely of his private correspondence. They do not in any way duplicate 
official letters which are on file in the Treasury Department, and as political 
history are of good quality. Fiscal and commercial policy, the condition 
of party politics in different states, and appointments to office are the leading 
subjects of these letters; the writers were prominent in many lines in their 
time. Some of the names are Henry C. Carey, James Hamilton, of South 
Carolina, Francis Granger, S. Draper, Washington Hunt, Moses H. Grinnell, 
and many others. 

Crawford, George W. 

Two documents by Crawford, and 14 letters to him, 1845-1862, from 
G. JJ. Lamar, Robert Toombs, Charles Yancey, A. H. Stephens, and others. 

Creamer, David. 

Diary in one volume, 1861-1862, giving notes and memoranda taken in 
the grand jury room relative to attacks on the Sixth Massachusetts regiment 
in Baltimore, April 19, 1861. 

Crittenden, John J. 

About 2,500 pieces bearing especially on the opposition to the Jacksonian 
democracy. There are many letters and manuscript speeches by Crittenden, 
much material relating to his compromise measure brought forward in 1861, 
and some papers relating to the Kentucky-Tennessee boundary. The corre- 
spondence is especially notable, there being considerable series of letters 
from such men as W. S. Archer, Robert J. Breckinridge, George M. Bibb, 
A. T. Burnley, Orlando Brown, George E. Badger, Henry Clay, John M. 
Clayton, Leslie Combs, Thomas Corwin, Charles A. Davis, Thomas Ewing, 
Felix Grundy, Thomas H. Hicks, James Harlan, Christopher Hughes, 
Richard M. Johnson, Reverdy Johnson, J. P. Kennedy, George Lunt, 



282 Library of Congress. 

Abbott Lawrence, Amoa A. Lawrence, K. P. Letcher, T. Metcalfe, W. P. Man- 
gam, Humphrey Marshall, Hugh Miner, ('. S. Morehead, S. S. Nichols, 

John Pendleton, A. Porter, William C. Preston, \Y. C. Hives, William Schley, 
Alexander II. Stephens, Winneld Scott, Zachary Taylor, C. S. Todd, Robert 
Toombs, and Robert C. Winthrop. Less than one half of the collection 
u tfl Died by Mrs. Coleman in her " Life of John J. Crittenden". 
dishing, Jacob. 

Diary, kept on interleaved editions of almanacs, 1749-1801) (22 volumes). 

Davit, Jefferson. 

About 2<50 letters and documents, mostly letters to Davis, 1851-18G0. 
The materia] is of considerable biographical value, and has been used by 
W. 1.. Doild in bis volume on Da\ is in the " American Crisis Biographies". 
The papen were transferred from the Bureau of Rolls and Library, State 
Department. 

Davis. John, 1766-1788. 

Col Davis was deputy quartermaster general of the Continental army. 
The collection comprises about 1500 papers relating to matters of that 
office. 

Dearborn, Henry A. S. 

Ten letters to Dearborn from various persons, 1813-1844. 

Drtiison, George S. 

About 150 letters (102 to his mother) written by Denison during his life 
in Texas and Louisiana before and during the war. They are of interest 
mainly as presenting the views of a northern man on social conditions in the 
South. There is also a scrap-book of clippings from New Orleans, papers 
on customs regulation and financial institutions while Denison was in charge 
of the custom-house. In this connection should be noted the series of 
letters from Denison among the Chase papers. 

Dickins papers. 

About 200 papers of Asbury Dickins and his son Francis A. Dickins. 
The former was in the Treasury and State Departments, and from 183G to 
18G1 was secretary of the Senate. 

Duane, William. 

Eleven letters (A. L. S.) to various persons, 1801-1832. 

Fitch, John. 

The papers of John Fitch were obtained in the Peter Force purchase ; they 
relate mainly to the application of steam to navigation. 

Franklin, Benjamin. 

This is part of the Stevens collection of Franklin papers, purchased in 
1882 (22 Stat. L. 338) and comprises 14 of the volumes formerly in the 



Division of Manuscripts. 283 

Bureau of Rolls and Library, State Department. The remaining 17 vol- 
umes, dealing with foreign relations, were retained in the State Department 
(see above, Bureau of Rolls and Library, p. 47). An inventory of the 
volumes (those in the Library of Congress are listed as Second Series) is 
printed in " Bulletin of the Bureau of Rolls and Library ", no. 5, while an 
unsatisfactory list of the individual papers in the Stevens collection is 
printed in S. Misc. Doc. 21, 47 Cong., 1 sess., and a history of the collec- 
tion is in the " Magazine of American History ", IX. 428-439. A complete 
list of the papers now in the Library of Congress has been published by the 
library, "List of the Benjamin Franklin Papers in the Library of Con- 
gress ", prepared by J. C. Fitzpatrick (Washington, 1905). Portions of 
the collection have been published in J. Bigelow's " Complete Works of 
Benjamin Franklin" (New York, 1887-1888, 10 vols.) and with greater 
fulness in A. H. Smyth's " Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin " (New 
York, 1905-1907, 10 vols.). It may be noted here that the major part 
of the Franklin papers is in the library of the American Philosophical 
Society in Philadelphia, and that a calendar of these is in progress. 

Franklin, William B. 

Letters, telegrams, etc., sent to General William B. Franklin, 1861-1865 
(102 manuscripts). 

Fritsch, Baron von. 

Typewritten diary in one volume, 1856-1900. 

Gallatin, Albert. 

A volume, transferred from the Bureau of Rolls and Library, State De- 
partment, containing correspondence of Gallatin between July, 1801, and 
March, 1811. Most of the papers are prior to 1807; they consist of letters 
from Gallatin to the Secretary of State, with their inclosures, such as ac- 
counts of officers of the State Department, papers relating to the seizure 
of vessels, relief of seamen, etc. Not included in Adams's " Gallatin ". 

Galloway papers. 

In the papers of the Galloway family, numbering some 3,000 pieces, is 
found a continuous series extending over four generations. For the 
colonial and revolutionary periods the papers are of an economic character, 
the correspondence of a planter, an exporter of tobacco and importer of 
merchandise, serving as a distributing agent for the Eastern Shore of Mary- 
land. The letters, ledgers, and account books begin with 1718, and the 
correspondence with the English merchants is voluminous and interesting. 
In the third generation are included the papers of Virgil Maxcy, comprising 
letters from a large number of public men of his day, particularly a series 
of letters of John C. Calhoun, 80 in number, written in terms of full 



284 Library of Congress. 

intimacy and political confidence. In the fourth generation are the papers 
of Francis M.irkor, who was connected with the Columbian Institute and 
waa for a time chief clerk of the Department of State. 

Oilman, Nicholat, 

Com gpondl -ncc, Treasury circulars, miscellaneous accounts, etc., 1780— 
1810 (1C3 pieces). 

Green, Duff. 

Green waa editor of the " United States Telegram ". The 90 letters in 
tliis collection (April. 1 8'2 1 Novemher, 1818) are chiefly to Richard K. 
Cralle. a connection of C 'alhoun, and to Doctor Cabell, editor of the Lynch- 
burg " Jefferaonian ". They are important as showing the hopes of the 
followers of Calhoun. 

Greene, Xallianarl. 

Two letter-hooka, January, 1781 -April, 1782; obtained in the Peter 
Force purchase. 

Hamilton , .1 Ir.riitider. 

The Hamilton papers, in (55 volumes, 1757-1804', were purchased in 1848 
(9 Stat. L. 284) and in 1904 were transferred from the Bureau of Rolls 
and Library, State Department, to the Library of Congress. Portions of 
them have been printed in J. C. Hamilton's " Works of Alexander Hamil- 
ton " (New York. 1800-1851, 7 vols.) and in H. C. Lodge's "Works of 
Alexander Hamilton" (New York, 1885-188G, 9 vols.). See also P. L. 
Ford's " Bibliotheca II imiltoniana " (New York, 188G). 

Haines, Hiram. 

Literary papers, poems, etc. (1 vol.). 

Hashing, Thomas. 

Journals of Reverend Thomas Haskins, 1782-1783, 1784-1785 (2 vols.). 

Holt, Joseph. 

A large and important collection of the papers of Joseph Holt, attorney 
general under Buchanan. See the Librarian's report for 1907, pp. 131, 132. 

Jackson, Andrew. 

The principal part of the Jackson papers is known as the " Montgomery 
Blair collection ", and was presented by the children of Montgomery Blair 
in 1 903. It contains over 4,000 manuscripts and 1 3 volumes of letter-books, 
orderly-books and other papers. Descriptions of the collection are to be 
found in an article by C. H. Lincoln, in the " Literary Collector " for May, 
1904, on "Some Manuscripts of Early Presidents"; and in an article by 
James Schouler in the "Atlantic Monthly" for February, 1905, on the 
Jackson and Van Buren papers. In addition to this principal collection 



Division of Manuscripts. 285 

there are 50 or more miscellaneous papers including a series of 15 letters 
to John Overton, 1798-1831. There are also Jackson letters in other col- 
lections in the library, as for example among the Van Buren papers. 

Jamieson, Neil. 

Commercial papers, Virginia, 1757-1783. 

Jefferson, Thomas. 

The Jefferson papers include some 2,000 letters, 1774-1830, bearing on 
his life in France, and his services as Secretary of State, together with the 
collection of 172 volumes which was purchased in 1848 (9 Stat. L. 284) 
and was transferred in its entirety in 1904 from the Bureau of Rolls and 
Library, State Department. An inventory of the latter collection is printed 
in " Bulletin of the Bureau of Rolls and Library ", no. 5, while nos. 6, 8, 
and 10, of the same series contain a calendar of it. Portions of this collec- 
tion are printed in " The Works of Thomas Jefferson " edited by H. A. 
Washington (Washington, 1853-1854, 9 vols.), P. L. Ford's "Writings 
of Thomas Jefferson, 1760-1826" (New York, 1892-1899, 10 vols.), and 
A. E. Baugh's "The Writings of Thomas Jefferson" (Washington, 1903- 
1904, 20 vols.). It may be noted here that the Massachusetts Historical 
Society possesses a large collection of Jefferson's papers, some of which are 
published in the society's " Collections ", seventh series, volume I. (Boston, 
1900). 

Johnson, Andrew. 

The collection of Johnson papers comprises about 15,000 documents, and 
consists of a small number of Johnson's letters (including a series of 15 
letters, 1851-1866, to B. McDannel), drafts of his messages, copies of his 
state papers, and complete records of applications, appointments, pardons, 
messages, orders, and telegrams. There are also 10 volumes of scrap- 
books. A great quantity of original papers bears on the contest between 
Johnson and his cabinet. With the exception of the series noted above, 
the papers do not antedate 1861, the earlier ones having been destroyed by 
fire. The collection covers Johnson's career as senator, military governor 
of Tennessee, Vice-President, President, and ex-President. See James 
Schouler, " The Johnson Papers ", in the " Proceedings of the Massachusetts 
Historical Society ", second series, vol. XX. 

Johnson, Sir William. 

Papers, 1755-1774, relating almost entirely to Church of England affairs 
in the colonies (1 vol.). 

Jones, John Paul, 1775^-1778. 

This is the Bancroft collection of John Paul Jones papers; it fills twelve 
volumes and one bundle, and was obtained in the Peter Force purchase. A 



286 Library of Congress. 

calendar of it has been published by the Library of Congress: " Calendar of 
John Paul Joins Manuscripts in the Library of Congress," by C. H. Lincoln 
i Washington, 1908). 

Jiulah, Lieutenant Henri/ M. 

Military journal, 1817 (1 vol.). 

Kent, James. 

The papers <>t' Chancellor James Kent of New York include 070 letters, 

a Dumber of diaries, and 16 diplomas, commissions, and similar documents. 
The correspondence is for the most part with members of his family, espe- 
cially his brother. Moss Kent, and his son, William Kent, though there are 
letters from such men as John Cotton Smith. Simeon Baldwin, Noah Web- 
ster, George sfcDume, W. W. Van Ness, Jonas Piatt, Daniel Webster, 
William Wirt, ( li arles Sumner, William H. Seward, Charles O'Conor, 
Lemuel Shaw, Nicholas Piddle, John Quinev Adams, Francis Lieber, and 
Henry Clay. Of the letters, 288 antedate 1800. The diaries are the 
records of SI journeys taken in 1709-1846. 

Kingebury, Jacob. 

Letters, 1727-1818 (358 pieces). 

Latrobc, Benjamin If. 

Correspondence. 1803-1817, relating to the Capitol (transcripts, 2 vols.). 

McArtkur, Duncan. 

McArthur was a surveyor in the Northwest Territory, a member of the 
Ohio legislature, a brigadier-general in the War of 1812, succeeding William 
Henry Harrison in the chief command of the western army, a member of 
Congress, and a governor of Ohio. The collection contains about 10,000 
pieces | 1 790 1 889 ), and consists of papers bearing closely on the settlement 
of new territory, such as notes of surveys, plats of lands, land documents, 
etc., of military papers, such as returns, reports of officers at various posts 
of the Northwest, orders and correspondence including series of letters from 
Croghan, Cass, Butler, Harrison, and others, and of political papers. 

McLean, John. 

A large and important collection of the papers of John McLean, post- 
master-general 1823-1829, associate justice of the Supreme Court 1829- 
1861. See the Librarian's report for 1907, pp. 127, 128. 

McPherson, Edward. 

Correspondence with Congressmen. 

Madison, James. 

This collection consists of the group known as the " Dolly Madison 
papers", purchased by Congress in 1848, which has been in the Library 



Division of Manuscripts. 287 

of Congress for some time, and of the collection purchased by Congress in 
1837 and 1848 (5 Stat. L. 271; 9 ibid., 235), which was transferred (with 
the exception of one volume, Journal of the Constitutional Convention) from 
the Bureau of Rolls and Library, State Department, to the Library in 1903— 
1904. The " Dolly Madison papers " deal with family matters and throw 
much light on the political and social life of Washington during the first 
half of the nineteenth century. An inventory of the papers comprising the 
collection formerly in the State Department is printed in " Bulletin of the 
Bureau of Rolls and Library ", no. 5, while a calendar of them is published 
in no. 4 of the same series (reprinted as H. Doc. 621, 57 Cong., 1 sess.). 
Parts of the collection have been published in " Papers of James Madison " 
(Washington, 1840, 3 vols.); "Letters and Other Writings of James Madi- 
son" (Philadelphia, 1865), and Gaillard Hunt's "Writings of Madison" 
(New York, 1900—, to be complete in 9 vols.). 

Meredith, Jonathan. 

Meredith was a lawyer of Baltimore, associated with Reverdy Johnson 
and the local branch of the Bank of the United States. The collection in- 
cludes 3,598 papers, exclusive of legal documents. There are letters from 
Stevenson Archer (3), William H. Aspinwall (24), J. G. Cogswell (18), 
William J. Duane (19), Alexander C. Hanson (8), Robert G. Harper (12), 
Philip Hone (17), Benjamin C. Howard (17), Reverdy Johnson (6), John 
McDonogh (13), John T. Mason (13), William M. Meredith (7), David 
B. Ogden (49), Richard Peters, jr. (18), William B. Reed (4), Arthur J. 
Sansbury (14), William Sullivan (9), William Warren, sr. (4), and William 
B. Wood (14). 

Minor-Watson papers. 

This collection of 1,200 manuscripts consists largely of the correspond- 
ence (1768-1821) of Garret Minor and David Watson, both of Virginia. 
The former served in the militia in the War of 1812, the latter was for some 
years a member of the Virginia assembly. There are military returns, a 
diary for 1813, two roster-books with general orders of Watson's troop of 
cavalry, 1813, notes of Bishop Madison's lectures on natural philosophy at 
William and Mary College, 1796, a ledger of accounts, 1765-1792, and 
350 Virginia broadsides. 

Monroe, James. 

This collection includes some papers that were already in the library, 
together with the collection in 22 volumes, 1758-1831, purchased in 1849 
(9 Stat. L. 370) and transferred in 1904 from the Bureau of Rolls and 
Library, State Department, to the Library of Congress. The entire collec- 
tion is included in a " Chronological List of the Papers of James Monroe ", 
prepared by W. R. Leech and published by the library (Washington, 1904). 



- ss Library of Congnss. 

Am inventory of the collection originally in the State Department is printed 
in " Bulletin of the Bureau of Hulls and Library ', no. 5, while a calendar 
of it is in no. 2 of the same series. Portions of the collection have been 
printed in S. M. Hamilton's "Writings of James Monroe" (New York, 
1898-1903, 7 vols.). 

Morris, Iiohrrl. 

The Robert Morris papers, filling fifteen volumes, were formerly owned 
by General John Meredith Bead. They comprise the diary and the letter- 
books of the United States Department of Finance during the years 1781 — 
17s|; the private letter books of Morris from 1 7*.> t to 1798; official copies, 
07CT the signature of Charles Thomson, of the Journals of the Continental 
Co n gre aB j transmitted to Morris as Superintendent of Finance; an account 
of Pierre ('.iron de Beaumarchais against Hie United States for services 
during the Revolution, and s letter from Beaumarchais to Morris in relation 
to tin settlement of this account. The diary, in three volumes, contains sum- 
m-.ries of the official correspondence of the department, and notes of sig- 
uificanl interviews from September 7, 1781, to September 30, 1784. The 
official letter-books, to seven volumes, contain copies of over 3,000 letters 
written by Morris during the same period. The private letter-books, in 
three \olumes. contain over 2,700 letters; they cover the period of his 
later speculations, including those in lands in the District of Columbia and 
on the western border; and of his business reverses; and end with several 
dated from the debtor's prison. 

Murray, ll'Miam J'an.s. 

Three volumes of notes on European affairs, 1797-1801. 

O'Callaghan, Edmund Bailey. 

These 12 volumes of letters and papers, 1830-1800, deal with the rarities 
in early American books, with the historical material on America in European 
archives, and with other matters bearing on the collecting of Americana. 
There are about 2,000 letters, many of which are from William L. McKenzie 
of Canada; others are from James Lenox, John Carter Brown, George 
Bancroft, John G. Shea, J. C. Brevoort, George Livermore, William Gowans, 
Henry C. Murphy, and S. F. Haven. 

Pierce, Franklin. 

This collection of 805 pieces, 1838-1869, is all that remains of the Pierce 
papers, the others having been burned. Of Pierce's own writings there are 
many political letters, some military letters written from Mexico, and some 
drafts of state papers. Among his correspondents may be named Nathaniel 
Hawthorne, Edmund Burke, Jefferson Davis, Charles O'Conor, Caleb Cush- 
ing, and C. G. Atherton. 



Division of Manuscripts. 289 

Plumer, William. 

Ten volumes of letters and papers, 1774-1833, including seven volumes 
containing about 1,400 letters, 1781—1833, and two volumes of miscellaneous 
extracts, records, etc. Plumer was governor of New Hampshire, 1812— 
1813, and 1816-1819. 

Polk, James Knox. 

This collection contains 10,500 letters and papers, and includes all the 
Polk papers, except the 1,500 pieces in the Chicago Historical Society. 
It covers the entire period of Polk's political life, and is notably rich in 
material bearing upon political history in the Mississippi valley. There are 
drafts of Polk's speeches, notes on committee reports, public addresses, cam- 
paign material, credentials, commissions, legal documents and many printed 
pieces. A special feature consists of the series of letters from his political 
lieutenants, such as Cave Johnson (180 letters), Robert Armstrong (156), 
James Walker (153), Samuel H. Laughlin (123), Archibald Yell (61), John 
W. Childress (61), Lucien H. Coe (56), A. O. P. Nicholson (47), Alexander 
Anderson (46), H. M. Watterson (22), Gideon J. Pillow (20), A. J. 
Donelson (19). 

Porter, David. 

This collection consists of letter-books and miscellaneous papers of Com- 
modore Porter during the years 1805—1812. His letter-book while in com- 
mand of the "Enterprise" (1805-1807), his correspondence with the 
Secretary of the Navy (1807-1808), and miscellaneous papers covering his 
operations at New Orleans and including an account of the difficulties which 
arose in connection with the attempts of General James Wilkinson to obtain 
control of affairs there are among the documents in this collection. Also, 
letters from John Rodgers (1805-1806) and from Tobias Lear (1797-1813). 

Preble, Edward. 

The papers of Commodore Edward Preble (25 volumes in all) contain 
correspondence relating to the early history of the American Navy. The 
twelve volumes of letters extend from 1799 to 1807, and cover his blockade 
of Tripoli and his final attack on the Tripolitan batteries. Not only are 
there many letters from his colleagues and inferior officers, but there is a 
particularly notable series from William Eaton. That the collection includes 
also Preble's journal, some log-books, the ship signals of that time, and two 
volumes of his letter-books indicates its extent and variety. Lorenzo Sabine, 
who prepared a biography of Preble in 1847, presented a number of Preble's 
papers to the Massachusetts Historical Society. They are described as 
having special reference to his Tripolitan campaign and must once have 
formed part of this collection acquired by the Library of Congress. 

Reynolds, William. 

Letter-books, 1771-1779, 1772-1783 (2 vols.). 



290 Library of Congress. 

Rochambeau, Comte de. 

This collection, purchased by Congress in 1882, includes eight volumes 
of Rochambeau correspondence, 1780-1783, a brief history of the wars in 
America, 1703-1780, and a diary kept by the French general during the 
winter of 1 7S0— 1 78 1 . There arc in addition over 500 documents embracing 
correspondence among the officem of the French army and with the French 
niinish t at Philadelphia from 1780 to 1782. 

Schoolcrtift, Henri/ R. 

Letter! and documents once belonging to Henry R. Schoolcraft, and 
relating to his researches among the Indians, the history of the Northwest, 
and tin- career of Lewis Cass from 1815 to 1800. These papers supple- 
ment the collection in the Smithsonian Institution. They have been copied 
and arc to be published by the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society. 

8igur, Louis Philippe de. 

About 500 documents relating to the American Revolution, 1779-1787. 

Smith, Caleb B. 

Correspondence, 1811-1859. The collection has been calendared and coin- 
prises over 1000 pieces, the greater portion of which were written in 1849, 
and relate mostly to Smith's aspirations for a cabinet office, Indiana politics 
and the ravages of the cholera throughout the Ohio Valley. 

Squier, Ephraim George. 

This collection consists of 7 packages of papers relating to American 
archaeology, including many manuscripts by Squier dealing with Indian 
tribes, vocabularies, ancient monuments of the Mississippi valley, etc., and 
of 10 volumes, containing about 2,200 letters to Squier from Louis Agassiz, 
Aubin, Prisse d'Avenncs, Spencer F. Baird, Joseph Henry, J. de Marcoleta, 
S. Birch, Thomas Wright, George R. Glidden, Henry B. Anthony, Brantz 
Mayer, Josiah C. Nott, Charles Eliot Norton, and Buckingham Smith. 

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. 

Reminiscences and miscellaneous papers. Unbound. 

Stephens, Alexander H. 

Five letters (1844-1853) to James Thomas, also 3 letters (1846-1849) 
to G. W. Crawford (see above). 

Stevens, Thaddeus. 
About 300 papers. 

Taylor, William. 

About 5,000 papers comprising the correspondence of William Taylor of 
Baltimore, who was engaged in domestic and foreign commerce in the latter 
part of the eighteenth and early years of the nineteenth centuries. They 
relate to business and supplement in an interesting way the Ellis papers. 



Division of Manuscripts. 291 

Taylor, Zachary. 

Eighteen letters written by Zachary Taylor to Colonel J. P. Taylor, 
during the Mexican War. The letters are long, written in full family 
confidence, and most interesting. 

Tazewell, Henry. 

Twelve letters from Henry Tazewell of Virginia to John Ambler, 1796- 
1798, giving the opposition view of the Washington and Adams administra- 
tions. 

Thornton, William. 

William Thornton was one of the designers of the United States Capitol, 
and the first commissioner of patents. His papers relate mainly to scien- 
tific and kindred matters, the steamboat, differences with Latrobe over the 
designs for the Capitol, correspondence with scientists, etc. His diaries 
and those of his wife cover nearly 90 years and bear closely upon social 
affairs in Washington. There are also the books and papers of the treas- 
urers of the Washington Monument Association. 

Toombs, Robert W. 

Letters to James Thomas, 1847-1848 (3 pieces), to Johnson and Thomas, 
1848 (1 piece), to G. W. Crawford (see above), 1846-1862 (4 pieces). 

Trumbull, John. 

Letter-book, 1796-1802. 

Trumbull, Lyman. 

The papers of Senator Lyman Trumbull, of Illinois, number about 3,700 
papers, comprising his private correspondence from 1856 to 1872. The 
more important portions relate to his service in the United States Senate, 
and to his active interest and participation in the political campaign of 1872. 
The letters give an interesting light on the Lincoln campaign of 1860, the 
Civil War, and the subsequent legislation for the Southern states. Some 
of the writers represented by this series of letters are: Charles Sumner, 
Stephen A. Douglas, William Herndon, John G. Nicolay, S. P. Chase, 
Lydia M. Child, Zachariah Chandler, Preston King, Simon Cameron, Joseph 
Medill, J. W. Grimes, Horace Greeley, John M. Palmer, and John Pope. 

Van Buren, Martin. 

This collection, containing over 4,000 papers, comprises practically all of 
Van Buren's papers selected by himself for preservation. The early part of 
the correspondence relates to his political activity in the state of New York, 
and contains letters from Rufus King, Ambrose Spencer, Smith Thompson, 
C. C. Cambreleng, William L. Marcy, Silas Wright, John A. Hamilton, and 
Peter B. Porter. A group of 260 letters is formed by the correspondence 
with Andrew Jackson, who wrote over 150 of them. Other letters are 



292 Library of Congress. 

from John Randolph, Levi Woodbury, William H. Crawford, Jefferson 
Davis, Edward Livingston, H. B. Taney, Thomas H. Benton, S. D. Ingham, 
Amos Kendall, Henry Clay, Washington Irving, Thomas Cooper, Mordecai 
M. Noah, Thomas Ritchie, Francis P. Blair, Benjamin F. Butler, George 
Bancroft, John A. Dix, A. C. Flagg, Samuel J. Tilden, James Buehanan, 
John Forsyth, Lewis Cass, Thomas N. Carr, and many others. There are 
many of Van Burin's own writings, and these are particularly valuable for 
their bearing upon the political events of his administration. In general it 
may In- s.iid that the value of die collection, to the student of the period 
covered by it. is extraordinary. See the article by James Schoulcr in the 
At 1 antic Monthly " for February, 1005, on the Jackson and Van Buren 
papers. 

i\ , thburne, Elihu />'. 

Tins collection consists of '.»J volumes of letters and papers, covers the 
years from 1 80S to 1882, and bears on Washburne's career in Congress, 
2—1860, and as minister to France, 18<!9-1877. It contains much re- 
lating to political events at home and diplomatic intercourse abroad. The 
correspondence is unusually rich in series of letters from distinguished 
Americans and foreigners. 

Wathington, George. 

The Washington collection consists of the papers that were in the Library 
prior to 1004, of the great body of material purchased under the acts of 
June 30, 1834, and March .'!, 1849 (4 Stat. L. 712; 9 ibid. 370) known as 
the "Washington papers" and transferred in 1904 (with the exception of 
three volumes of letters to the Secretary of State), from the Bureau of Rolls 
and Library, State Department, and of some few papers and documents 
acquired since 1004. The part of the collection originally in the Library 
consists of material obtained from the Force collection, such as Braddock's 
orderly-book, and Washington's diary during the Federal Convention; 
papers relating to the western expedition of 1779; papers relating to the 
Revolutionary secret service; Washington's correspondence with Rocham- 
beau; and the Toner collection, accepted by Congress in 1882, containing 
many transcripts and 225 press-copies of original documents. The part 
of the collection transferred from the State Department consisted of 330 
volumes and many loose papers. Thirty-seven volumes of military papers 
that were originally a part of the collection were transferred to the War 
Department in 1894 (28 Stat. L. 403) and are now in the office of the 
adjutant-general (see above, p. 114). Transcripts of such of these papers 
as antedate 1776 are in the Library of Congress, having been included in 
the Force collection. The papers originally in the Library were calendared 
in " A Calendar of Washington Manuscripts in the Library of Congress " 



Division of Manuscripts. 293 

(Washington, 1901), while an inventory of the collection transferred from 
the State Department is contained in " Bulletin of the Bureau of Rolls and 
Library ", no. 3. The task of calendaring the entire collection has been 
commenced by the library, — the first volume being a " Calendar of the 
Correspondence of George Washington with the Continental Congress, 
1775-1783", prepared by J. C. Fitzpatrick (Washington, 1906). The 
second volume is well advanced and will include the correspondence of 
Washington with his military associates. A brief historical account of 
Washington's papers is printed in the Annual Report of the American His- 
torical Association for 1892, pp. 73 ff. The principal publications of 
Washington papers have been Jared Sparks's " Life and Writings of George 
Washington" (Boston, 1837, 12 vols.), "Correspondence of the Amer- 
ican Revolution, Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington " (Boston, 
1853, 4 vols.), W. C. Ford's "Writings of George Washington" (New 
York, 1889-1893, 14 vols.), and S. M. Hamilton's "Letters to Washington 
and Accompanying Papers" (Boston and New York, 1898-1902, 5 vols.). 
For bibliographical data consult W. S. Baker's " Bibliotheca Washing- 
toniana " (Philadelphia, 1889). 

Watterston, George. 

About 300 manuscripts, covering the years 1815—1849, and including 
many letters of men noted in American political and literary history. Mr. 
Watterston was Librarian of Congress. 

Webster, Daniel. 

The Webster correspondence was acquired by purchase from Mr. Charles 
Greenough, of Boston. The greater part of the Webster papers was left 
by Peter Harvey to the Historical Society of New Hampshire. A part, 
however, of the original collection had been taken out for the purpose of 
preparing a biography, and it is this that the Library has acquired. It 
comprises 2,500 pieces, and includes naturally the more important political 
and personal letters both to and from Webster. 

White, John. 

About 1,000 papers of John White, cashier of the Baltimore branch of 
the Bank of the United States. 

Whitefield, George. 

Two volumes containing 140 letters (1736-1769) to Whitefield, from 
various persons. 

Willard, Daniel. 

Memorandum book, kept by Daniel Willard of Hartford, Connecticut, 
containing notes of personages met in Washington City, places visited, etc., 
1846 (1 vol.). 



294 Library of Congress. 

Winchester, Brigadier-Qeneral James. 
Letter-book, January to March, 1815. 



IV. Miscellaneous Papebs. 

Qreai Britain. 

The Halliwt 11-I'hillips Collection of 54 volumes of bills, accounts, inven- 
tories, etc, intended to illustrate the manners, customs, and economic 
history of England from 10S2 to 1792. These volumes were in 
1852 rece i v e d as a gift by the Smithsonian Institution, and in 18(50 
were transferred to the Library of Congress. They were prepared 
l>y Mr. J. (). Halliwell-Phillips, and contain about 7,000 documents. 

Various tilmlir statements of trade. 1640—1707. 

Two volumes of protests of the House of Lords (transcripts), 1041-1785. 

An early volume, undated, of tracts on the power of the sovereign. 

A commission and instructions to Sir Edmund Andros, 1080. 

\ i\v. Committee of Survey. Memorandum of correspondence relating 
to supplies, 1722-1723. 

Reports to the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, 1720-1745. 

Comptroller's memorandum of payments, 1735. 

A volume relating to the siege of Minorca, 1750. 

Debates in the British Parliament (loose printed sheets with MS. notes), 
1776-1776. 

Over forty volumes of debates in the Irish Parliament, 1770-1789. 

A folio volume of estimates for defraying the expenses of the civil estab- 
lishments in America and Australia, 1780-1787. 

Playbills of Shakespearian performances held in England, 1780-1848 (1809 
pieces). 

Log-book of H. M. S. "Thunderer", 1833-1837. 

Other countries. 

Denmark. List of land and sea forces, eighteenth century. 

Marine papers. Clearances, passports, bills of health, etc., of merchant 
ships from ports of West Indies, Spain, Holland, etc., 1785-1812 
(138 documents). 

Relation du voyage fait a la Chine en 1098, by Giovanni Gherardini (1 vol.). 

Photolithographic reproductions of the Swedenborg MSS. preserved in the 
Library of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden (10 
vols.). 

Burmese sacred writings. About 80 pieces of old manuscripts of the sacred 
writings of Burma. Listed in Annual Report of Librarian of Con- 
gress, 1905, pp. 42-40. 



Division of Maps and Charts. 295 

Mercantile papers. 

Mercantile accounts kept at St. Christophers, West Indies, and later at 
Philadelphia, 1719-1724 (1 vol.). 

Mercantile accounts kept at Philadelphia, 1728—1734. 

Letter-book of Dewey and Carson, Philadelphia, 1745—1750 (1 vol.). 

Ellis Papers. These are the mercantile records of the firms of Ellis and 
Allen, Charles Ellis and Sons, Thomas and Charles Ellis, and 
Thomas and Charles Ellis and Co., of Richmond, Va. They cover 
the years from 1805 to 1853 and comprise 258 bound volumes and 
56,064 individual pieces of manuscript. The house was concerned 
with foreign trade, was a large importer and one of the largest 
exporters in Virginia of tobacco and cotton. The journals, ledgers, 
day-books, and letter-books relate to every detail of its business and 
throw much light on prices and trade usage. 

Commercial correspondence, 1844—1864 (800 manuscripts) of the two Balti- 
more firms of Wright and Company, and Poulteney and Moale. 

DIVISION OF MAPS AND CHARTS. 

The Division of Maps and Charts possesses the largest collection of maps 
relating to America. A general description of this class of material may 
be found in the Report of the Librarian of Congress for 1901 (pp. 345- 
346). For a full description see "A List of Maps of America in the 
Library of Congress ", by P. Lee Phillips, Chief of the Division of Maps 
and Charts, 1901 (also printed as H. Doc. 516, 56 Cong., 2 sess.). In 
1903 the Kohl collection of 474 maps, relating for the most part to the 
progress of discovery in America, was transferred to this division from the 
State Department. This collection is listed in Harvard University Library 
Bibliographical Contributions, no. 19, reprinted by the Library of Congress. 
Lists or descriptive accounts of the more important accessions each year 
are given in the annual reports of the Librarian of Congress. 



THE INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN 

REPUBLICS. 

The Inti ni.itiniii] Burr mi of tin 1 American Republics was created by the 
Conference of American Republics held in Washington during the winter 
of 1885)— 1800. It is the permanent institution of the International Union 
of the American Republics, and was organized to disseminate among the 
people of the United States, Mexico, Central and South America and the 
West [ndiea Information relating to the resources and conditions in each 
of the republics forming the International Union. The bureau publishes 
descriptive volumes of all the American republics, and each month issues a 
" Bulletin " of about .'«>() pages dealing with commercial and economic sub- 
jects. A complete list of the bureau's publications appears in a small 
brochure printed in [908 and entitled, "The International Bureau of the 
American Republics ". Besides the usual files of correspondence the 
bureau is the custodian of the archives of the International American Con- 
ferences. These archives are the manuscript minutes of the Conferences 
and have ill been printed. The library of the International Bureau, known 
as the Columbus Memorial Library, contains about 15,000 books and 
pamphlets treating entirely of Latin-America. They include official re- 
ports of each government, laws, statistics, histories, and works descriptive 
of each country. The library also contains many early histories and col- 
lections of value to the student of American history. A list of the additions 
to the library, as well as a list of current periodicals, is printed in each 
issue of the " Bulletin ". 



296 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

For references to books, pamphlets, articles, reports, etc., relating to the 
history, functions, methods of work, and publications of the various depart- 
ments and bureaus, the historical and descriptive paragraphs under the 
respective offices should be consulted. As the references to sources of in- 
formation concerning the archives or manuscript collections, as such, are 
much more scattered, a descriptive list is here given of all titles or references 
that are likely to be of present value in connection with the information in- 
cluded in this edition of the Guide. 

GENERAL. 

Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1896, 
I. 483-485. Report of Historical Manuscripts Commission. 
Contains a bibliography of books and articles relating to the Federal archives. 
The Manuscript Sources of the History of the United States of America, 
with Particular Reference to the American Revolution, I. The 
Federal Archives ; by Justin Winsor, in his " Narrative and Critical 
History of America", VIII. 413-426. 

A general account of some of the more important material in the archives 
in Washington. The Continental Congress, Washington and Franklin papers 
receive fuller attention than other collections. Most of what is attributed to 
the Department of State, is now in the Library of Congress. 

Material for Historical Study in Washington, in American Antiquarian 
Society Proceedings, new series, II. 118-135. Report of the Council, 
by Hon. George F. Hoar, October, 1882. 

Mentions many collections of manuscripts, but contains a number of errors. 
For example, the statement is made that the " Registry of Deeds has the 
documents and surveys of the original laying out of the City of Washington ". 
There is no office by that name, and no such papers are to be found in the 
municipal offices of the District of Columbia. They are, however, in the Office 
of Public Buildings and Grounds in the War Department. Again there are 
no Jedidiah Morse papers in the office of Indian Affairs. 

Annual Report of Librarian of Congress, 1897, pp. 28-32. 

A brief general account of the various collections in the departmental 
archives, apparently compiled from the descriptions in Winsor and in American 
Antiquarian Society Proceedings noted above. 

297 



298 Bibliogruphy. 

What the United States Government has done for History, by A. Howard 
Clark, in Annual Report of the American Historical Association, 
1894, pp. 549-5 r, 1. 

Includes a list of the manuscript volumes, most of which were formerly 
in the State Department, containing the records (other than military) of the 
Revolution. IUs list is also in S. Doc. 22, 53 Cong., 3 sess. 

The Nation's Records, by Adelaide R. Hasse, in the Forum, July, 1898. 

A brief article giving some description of conditions in the archives, but 
containing no information as to the different classes of material. Particular 
attention to lack of provision, now largely remedied by the Library of Con- 
gress, for preserving nnd cataloguing governmental publications. 

Manuscript Sources for American History, by Herbert Putnam, in North 
American Review, April, 1904. 

A general article comparing the facilities afforded investigators abroad 
with those offered in the United States, especially in Washington. 

Virginia State Library. Calendar of Transcripts, including the Annual 
Report of the Department of Archives and History [by Edward S. 
Evans]. John P. Kennedy, State Librarian. (Richmond, Va., 
Superintendent Public Printing, 1905.) 

Pages 643-658 contain an account of Virginia material in Federal archives. 
The information, except as regards the Library of Congress, is for the most 
part taken from the first edition (1904) of the present Guide to the Archives. 

Publications of the Alabama Historical Society. Miscellaneous Collections. 
Volume I. Report of the Alabama History Commission to the Gov- 
ernor of Alabama, December 1, 1900, edited by Thomas McAdory 
Owen. (Montgomery, Ala., 1901.) 

Pages 53-77 contain an account of Alabama material in the Federal archives. 
But little specific information is given, however, and the account would 
hardly be of service to users of the present Guide. Of more value is the 
account, pp. 210-217, of Alabama material in the Library of Congress. 

Publications of the Mississippi Historical Society, edited by Franklin L. 
Riley, Secretary. Volume V. Report of the Mississippi Historical 
Commission. (Oxford, Miss., 1902.) 

Pages 64—69 contain brief statements as to Mississippi material in the federal 
archives. Pages 91-96 contain more detailed information respecting the 
material (manuscript and printed) in the Library of Congress bearing on the 
history of Mississippi. 

Publication of Historical Material by the United States Government, by 
Worthington Chauncey Ford, in Report of the Librarian of Congress, 
1904, pp. 171-182. 



Bibliography. 299 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 1 

Inventory of Archives in the Bureau of Indexes and Archives, prepared by 
Pendleton King. (Washington, 1897.) 

A confidential pamphlet containing no information of importance that has 
not been incorporated in the foregoing pages. 

Report on the Diplomatic Archives of the Department of State, 1789—1840, 
by Andrew C. McLaughlin. Papers of the Bureau of Historical 
Research, Carnegie Institution of Washington. (Washington, 1904, 
pp. 72.) 

The result of an exhaustive examination of the material in the four series 
of diplomatic correspondence to 1840, undertaken with a view to pointing out 
the relatively small part of this material that has been printed. A table 
shows what material there is bearing on each of the 25 countries with which 
the United States had diplomatic relations prior to 1840, and a large number 
of illustrative documents are printed for the first time. 

Calendar of the Miscellaneous Letters received by the Department of State 
from the organization of the Government to 1820. (Washington, 
1897.) 

This calendar is considered confidential. The papers calendared are those 
in the series of " Miscellaneous Letters " in the Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 

Domestic Letters. June 1, 1870-December 31, 1873. 
A printed index. Confidential. 

The Historical Archives of the Department of State, by Andrew Hussey 
Allen, Chief of the Bureau of Rolls and Library, in Annual Report 
of the American Historical Association, 1894, pp. 281-298. 
An account of the methods of caring for the historical collections in the 

Bureau of Rolls and Library, with especial reference to their accessibility. 

An answer to adverse criticisms that had been made of the administration of 

the archives of the bureau. 

List of the Territorial and State Records deposited in the Bureau of Rolls 
and Library. ... In Bulletin of the Bureau of Rolls and Library, 
no. 7, September, 1894, pp. 5-8. (Washington, Department of 
State, 1894.) 

This list does not include the greater part of the territorial records, which, 
at the time of compilation, were in the Bureau of Indexes and Archives. 
The list is hardly of service to users of the present Guide. 

List of papers on file [in Department of State] relative to the affairs of 
the Federal District. Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A., 
1900, part 8, p. 5283. 
See above, p. 37. 
1 See also under Library of Congress, below, L. M. Perez, Guide to Materials for 
American History in Cuban Archives. 



L. 



300 Bibliography. 

Our lost Declaration of Independence, by North Overton Messenger, in the 
Independent, LV. 1869-1564 (July 2, 1903). 

Calendar of Applications and Recommendations for Office during the Presi- 
dency of George Washington, by G.iill.ird Hunt. (Washington, 
1901.) 
Tin" papen hen calendared are in the Bureau of Appointments. 

TREASURY DEPARTMENT. 

The Treasury Department • md its Various Fiscal Bureaus, by Robert Mayo. 
(Waabjngfeon, 1 8 tT.) 

While dealing primarily with the functions of the respective bureaus, this 
work contains descriptive lists of the current record-hooks, which are of con- 
siderable value. 

DEPARTMENT OF WAR. 

List of the Records and Files of the War Department arranged by offices 
and divisions, with names of the clerks in each division; also a state- 
ment of the subject-matter recorded and filed, and date of the com- 
mencement and termination of each series of records. . . . (Wash- 
ington, Gov e rnment Printing Office, 1800, pp. 145.) 
Indexes of subjects and names are provided. See above, p. 103. 

i itivc and Critical History of America, edited by Justin Winsor, VII. 
413, 41 1. 

A brief account, by J. R. Soley, of the correspondence of the Secretary of 
War. 

Annual Reports, Department of War. 

In the annual reports of the War Department, particularly in those of the 
chief of the Record and Pension Office, later military secretary and adjutant- 
general, is much information relating to military records (Revolution, War 
of 1812, Mexican War, Indian wars, Civil War, Spanish War), methods of 
indexing and arrangement, Confederate archives, etc. Specific references are 
as follows: 1892, I. 202, 635; 1893, I. 172; 1894, I. 507; 1895, I. 598; 1896, I. 
616; 1897, I. 699; 1898, I. 999; 1899, I. 42, 828; 1901, I. part 2, 1102, 1112; 1902, 
I. 737; 1903, IV. 201; 1904, I. 278; 1905, I. 414; 1906, I. 622. Many of the 
above references involve repetitions. 

House Report No. 3870, 57th Congress, 2 sess. 

List of muster-out rolls transferred from the Interior Department to the 
War Department. 

Subject Index of the General Orders of the War Department, 1809-1900. 
(Washington, 1882, 1886, 1901.) 

Three volumes covering the years 1809-1860, 1861-1880, and 1881-1900, 
respectively. 



Bibliography. 301 

A Sketch of the History and Duties of the Judge-Advocate-General's De- 
partment, U. S. A, by M. Dunn. (Washington, 1878.) 

This contains (p. 15) a brief statement relating to the bulk of records since 
1862. 

Records relating to the early history of the city of Washington. Annual 
Report, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A, 1895, part 7, p. 4150; 1900, 
part 8, 5281. 

A list of the historical papers in the office of Public Buildings and Grounds. 
See above, p. 129. 

NAVY DEPARTMENT. 

Narrative and Critical History of America, edited by Justin Winsor, VII. 
414. 

This contains a brief account, by J. R. Soley, of some of the principal 
classes of records among the archives of the office of the Secretary of the 

Navy. 

A Statistical and Chronological History of the United States Navy, 1775- 
1907, by Robert Wilden Neeser. 

This forthcoming publication is to include a complete inventory of the 
archives of the Navy Department, as well as a complete list of all the publica- 
tions by the government bearing on naval affairs. 

Alphabetical Index to Records of the Secretary's Office, Navy Department, 
from its Organization to 1880. By authority of the Secretary of 
the Navy. (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1882, pp. 75.) 

This is a list of the series and volumes in the archives of the Secretary's 
Office, but is not descriptive. There are recorded 3,617 volumes of letters 
received and 419 volumes of letters sent. 

List of War Charts. Office of Naval War Records. Office Memoranda, 
no. 1. (Washington, 1898, pp. 5.) 
A list of 99 charts arranged by states. 

List of Log-Books of U. S. Vessels, 1861-1865, on file in the Navy Depart- 
ment [Bureau of Navigation]. Office of Naval War Records, Office 
Memoranda, no. 5. (Washington, Government Printing Office, 
1898, pp. 49.) 

The names of vessels are arranged alphabetically, and under each name are 
given the dates of each log-book, pertaining to that vessel, on file. 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR. 

The History and Growth of the United States Census, by Carroll D. 
Wright and William C. Hunt. Senate Document 194, 56th Congress, 
1 sess. 
A description of the original census schedules is contained on pp. 76-79. 



302 Bibliography. 

SUPREME COURT. 

United States Reports, vol. 131. 

In tlie "Centennial Appendix ", pp. xxxiv xliv, is a list of the prize appeal 
cues decided by the Committee and Court of Appeals of the Continental 
CO Bg w aa See above, p. 250. 

American Antiquarian Society Proceedings, new scries, II. 118-128. 

A list of the prize appeal cases decided by the Committee and Court of 
Appeals of the Continental Congress. It is superseded by the list noted 
above, in the United States Reports, vol. 131. 

The Supreme Court of the United States: its History, by Hampton L. 
(arson. (Philadelphia! 1892.) 

Tbia contains (].]>. (ii M) an excellent brief description of the collection of 
documents relating to Revolutionary prize appeal cases. 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

The Historical Manuscripts in the Library of Congress, by Herbert Frieden- 
wald. Annual Report of the American Historical Association, 1898, 
pp. 35-45. 

The Manuscripts Division of the Library of Congress. Notes for the 
Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Mo., 1904, no. 5, Manu- 
scripts. (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1904, pp. 16.) 

Historical sketch of the Division of Manuscripts with notes on the Peter 
Force collection, the Jefferson library, the Rochambeau papers, papers relat- 
ing to the history of the Spanish possessions in America, military and naval 
papers, and the Morris, Chase, Jackson, Van Buren, Polk, Johnson, and other 
collections. Monroe's journal of the negotiations for the purchase of Louisiana 
is printed, pp. 9-16. 

Annual Reports of the Librarian of Congress. 

1897, pp. 37-39, brief accounts of the Toner and Force collections; 1899, 
pp. 7, 8, brief note on accessions of manuscripts; 1901, pp. 335-344, general 
description of manuscript collections. Commencing in 1901 each report con- 
tains descriptive notes on important accessions, and an itemized list of all 
accessions; the references are as follows: 1901, pp. 19-26, 151-156; 1902, pp. 
24-26, 71-76; 1903, pp. 19-28, 77-86; 1904, pp. 36-70, 159-170 (pp. 256-260 
contain a list of manuscripts exhibited at St. Louis); 1905, pp. 20-59, 175-188; 
1906, pp. 18-38, 127-139; 1907, pp. 32-34, 127-152. 

History of the Library of Congress. Volume I., 1800-1864, by William 
Dawson Johnston. (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1904, 
pp. 535.) 

Contains, pp. 312-340, much interesting information respecting the manu- 
script collections of the library during the years 1852-1864, and the history 
of their acquisition, as well as, pp. 68-104, an account of the purchase of 
Jefferson's library. 



Bibliography. 303 

Manuscripts in the Library of Congress, by C. H. Lincoln, in the Annals 
of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, vol. XIX., 
pp. 266-269. 

A brief general description of the principal collections in the library, with 
reference to their value for historical purposes. 

A Columbus Codex, by Herbert Putnam, in the Critic, XLII. 244-251 

(March, 1903). 
An Introduction to the Records of the Virginia Company of London, with 

a bibliographical list of extant documents, by Susan M. Kingsbury. 

(Washington, Government Printing Office, 1905, pp. 215.) 

Published by the Library of Congress. Contains, pp. 41-54, a description 
of the Virginia Company records in the Library of Congress, and, pp. 119-205, 
a list of documents, of which those marked " L. C." are in the Library of 
Congress. 

The Franklin, Rochambeau, and Force Papers, by Henry P. Johnston, in 
the Magazine of American History, vol. VIIL, part i., pp. 346—350. 

Special Report of the Librarian of Congress to the Joint Committee on the 
Library concerning the historical library of Peter Force, esq. 
(Washington, 1867, pp. 8.) 

Report of the Librarian of Congress upon the American Archives or Docu- 
mentary History of the American Revolution. (Washington, 1879.) 

Printed as S. Misc. Doc. 34, 46 Cong., 1 sess. It is mainly concerned with 
the manuscript materials in the Force collection, gathered for the purpose of 
publishing additional volumes in the series of Force's American Archives. 

History of the Department of State, by William H. Michael. (Washing- 
ton, 1901.) 

With the history of the Bureau of Rolls and Library is an account of the 
historical collections, formerly contained in the bureau, but now in the Library 
of Congress. 

List of the Vernon-Wager Manuscripts in Library of Congress. Com- 
piled under the direction of Worthington Chauncey Ford, Chief, 
Division of Manuscripts [by John C. Fitzpatrick] . (Washington, 
Government Printing Office, 1904, pp. 148.) 

Catalogue of the Manuscript Volumes containing the Records and Papers 
of the Continental Congress. In Bulletin of the Bureau of Rolls 
and Library, no. 1, September, 1893, pp. 7-22. (Washington, De- 
partment of State, 1893.) 

The most authoritative inventory of the Continental Congress papers. It 
should be noted that 98 volumes, nos. 5, 79-130, 135, 175, 176, and 187, were 
retained in the Bureau of Rolls and Library. 

[Continental Congress papers.] Miscellaneous Index. In Bulletin of the 
Bureau of Rolls and Library, nos. 1 (pp. 25-102), 3 (pp. 24-134), 
5 (pp. 18-138), 7 (pp. 12-126), 9 (pp. 7-36). 



304 



Bibliography. 



This index l8 confined fur the most part to the M volumes of letters to the 
Presidenta of Congress, it is Impossible to determine its completeness, and its 
DSC Ifl rendered extremely difficult by the fad that in each installment the 
alphabet begins dv MOVO. 

Catalogue of Manuscript Hooks deposited in the Archives of the Department 
of State, 1774-1789. (Washington, 1835; enlarged edition, 1855.) 
\n carlv list of the volumes of Continental Congress papers. 

Senate Document No. 28, 68 t'ong., 8 Bess. 

Contains a memorandum on the acquisition and preservation of the historical 
archives, formerly in the Bureau of Rolls and Library, and an inventory of 
the Continental Congress papers. 

Materials in the Library of Congress for a Study of United States Naval 
History, by C. H. Lincoln, (n Bibliographical Society of America, 
Proceedings and Papers, vol. I., 1906. 

Naval Records of the American Revolution, 1775-1788. Prepared from the 
originals in the Library of Congress by Charles Henry Lincoln, of 
the Division of Manuscripts. (Washington, Government Printing 
Office, 1906, pp. 549.) 

This calendar includes the bonds of letters of Marque, the letters in Marine 
Commtttoe, I77fl 1780, and such other naval papers as are in the Library of 
Congress, except those in the John Paul Jones, Peter Landais, Robert Morris, 
and Benjamin Franklin collections. 

Naval Manuscripts in National Archives, by C. H. Lincoln, in Literary 
Collector, January, 1904. 

Mentions briefly the principal collections of the Navy Department, but de- 
vote, especial attention to the letter-books of the Marine Committee of the 
Continental Congress. 

A Calendar of John Paul Jones Manuscripts in the Library of Congress. 
Compiled under the direction of Charles Henry Lincoln, of the 
Division of Manuscripts. (Washington, Government Printing Office, 
1903, pp. 31 G.) 

Includes 883 entries, with references to documents in print, arranged chrono- 
logically. 

List indicating Arrangement of the Washington Papers. In Bulletin of the 
Bureau of Rolls and Library, no. 3, January, 1891, pp. 5-21. 
(Washington, Department of State, 1894.) 

A Calendar of Washington Manuscripts in the Library of Congress. Com- 
piled under the direction of Herbert Friedenwald. (Washington, 
Government Printing Office, 1901, pp. 315.) 

The papers included are those that were in the library prior to the transfer 
of the Washington collection from the Department of State. The calendar 
is in two parts, Documents from Washington, and Documents to Washington. 



Bibliography. 305 

Washington Papers. Volume I. Calendar of the Correspondence of 
George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, 
with the Continental Congress. Prepared from the original manu- 
scripts in the Library of Congress by John C. Fitzpatrick, Division 
of Manuscripts. (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1906, 
pp. 741.) 

The first volume of what is to be a complete calendar of the correspondence 
of Washington. It is based upon the Washington, Continental Congress, and 
Robert Morris collections in the Library of Congress. 

An Account of the Manuscript Papers of George Washington which were 
left by him at Mount Vernon, with a plan for their publication, by 
Jared Sparks. (Boston, 1827.) 

This tract comprises two letters written by Sparks at Mount Vernon, in 
which he describes the condition in which Washington left his papers. 

Some Account of George Washington's Library and Manuscript Records, 
and their Dispersion from Mount Vernon, by J. M. Toner, in An- 
nual Report of the American Historical Association, 1892, pp. 71- 
111. 

House Report No. 381, 23d Congress, 1 sess. 

Report of House Committee on Foreign Affairs, relating to the purchase of 
the Washington papers, and containing a brief statement by Jared Sparks as 
to their value. 

List of the Benjamin Franklin Papers in the Library of Congress. Com- 
piled under the direction of Worthington Chauncey Ford, Chief, 
Division of Manuscripts [by John C. Fitzpatrick]. (Washington, 
Government Printing Office, 1905, pp. 322.) 

A list of the papers in the Franklin collection in the Library of Congress, 
together with such other Franklin papers as are in the Adams-Dumas, Jeffer- 
son, Washington, Continental Congress, John Paul Jones, Robert Morris, 
and Shippen collections. The papers printed in Bigelow's " Writings of 
Franklin ", are indicated. 

Senate Miscellaneous Document No. 21, 47th Congress, 1 sess. 

Contains an inventory of the Stevens collection of Franklin's papers, but 
it is poorly arranged and unreliable, and is superseded by the calendar pub- 
lished by the Library of Congress. 

The Lost and Found Manuscripts of Benjamin Franklin, by Theodore F. 
Dwight, in Magazine of American History, IX. 428-439. 

A general description of the Franklin papers, giving the history of the 
collection. 

Calendar of the Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson. Printed as Bulletin 
of the Bureau of Rolls and Library, nos. 6 (July, 1894), 8 (No- 
21 



306 Bibliography. 

vember, 1894), 10 (Juno, 1903). (Washington, Department of 
State. 1894, 1895, 1908, pp. 541, 593, 270.) 

Pnrt i., in Bulletin no. 6, lists letters from Jefferson; part n., Bulletin no. 
B, letters to Jefferson, and part BL, Bulletin no. 10, a supplementary ealendar 
of letters t" Bad from Jefferson) with a general index to parts l- in. 

List indicating the Arrangement of the Papers of Madison, Jefferson, Hamil- 
ton. Monroe, and Franklin. In Bulletin of the Bureau of Rolls 
ml Library, DO. .">, May. 1894, pp. 6—14. (Washington, Depart- 
ment of State, l.v.'i.) 

No li -t of the volumes In the Hamilton collection is given. 
iidir of tli*- Correspondence of James Madison. Printed in Bulletin 
of the Bureau of Rolls and Library, no. 4, March, 1894. (Wash- 
ington. Department of State. L894, pp. 739.) 

\n Index bo the ealendar Is printed ns a supplement to Bulletin no. 4 
(August, 1886). Pp. "0. 

( alendar of the Correspondence of James Monroe, prepared from the orig- 
inals preserved in the Department of State. Printed as Bulletin 
of the Bureau of Rolls and Library, no. 2, November, 1893. 
(Washington, Department of State, 1893, pp. 371.) 

The calendar is in two parts, letters to Monroe, arranged alphahetically by 
writers, and letters from Monroe, arranged alphabetically by addressees. 

Papers of James Monroe. Listed in Chronological Order from the Original 
Manuscripts in the Library of Congress. Compiled under the direc- 
tion of Worthington Chauncey Ford, Chief, Division of Manuscripts 
[by Wilmer Ross Leech]. (Washington, Government Printing 
Office, 1904, pp. 114.) 

Contents of documents not indicated. A facsimile of Monroe's "'Journals" 
of negotiations for the purchase' of Louisiana precedes the list. 

Second Report of the Bureau of Archives for the Province of Ontario, by 
Alexander Fraser, Provincial Archivist, 1904. (Toronto, 1905, pp. 
1430.) 

Contains a complete publication, with index, of the Loyalist papers in the 
Library of Congress. A history of the manuscripts is given on pp. 24, 25. 

Some Manuscripts of Early Presidents, by C. H. Lincoln, in Literary Col- 
lector, May, 1904. 
Relates especially to the Jackson papers. 

The Jackson and Van Buren Papers, by William MacDonald, in American 
Antiquarian Society Proceedings, 1905. 

The Jackson and Van Buren Papers, by James Schouler in the Atlantic 
Monthly, February, 1905, pp. 217-225. 

The Confederate Diplomatic Archives, by J. Morton Callahan, in South 
Atlantic Quarterly, II. 1-9 (January, 1903). 



Bibliography. 307 

A description of the " Pickett Papers " with an account of their history and 
acquisition by the United States. 

Texas Documents in the Congressional Library, in Texas Historical Asso- 
ciation Quarterly, VI. 333 (April, 1903). 

Guide to the Materials for American History in Cuban Archives, by Luis 
Marino Perez. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 
No. 83. Papers of the Department of Historical Research. (Wash- 
ington, 1907.) 

Appendix C, pp. 122-130, contains a " List of documents in the Division of 
Manuscripts of the Library of Congress, partly from the Cuban archives." 
Note should also be made of Appendix B, pp. 117-121, which contains a list 
of the papers in the Bureau of Rolls and Library, Department of State, 
relating to the commission of 1830-1835 for the recovery of the Florida 
archives. 

Introduction to the Catalogue Index of Manuscripts in the Archives of 
England, France, Holland and Spain relating to America, 1763 to 
1783. [By Benjamin Franklin Stevens. London, February, 1902.] 
Pp. xxvii. 

This privately printed pamphlet was issued by Messrs. Stevens and Brown, 
prior to the sale of the Stevens Catalogue Index to the Library of Congress. 
It contains correspondence with officials and others in the United States, and 
other information relating to the Catalogue Index as well as to the collection 
of Peace Transcripts. It contains material from S. Misc. Doc. 29, 47 Cong., 
2 sess.; S. Ex. Doc. 43, 49 Cong., 2 sess.; S. Rept. 96, 49 Cong., 2 sess.; H. Rept. 
3962, 49 Cong., 2 sess. 

A List of Maps of America in the Library of Congress preceded by a List 
of Works relating to Cartography, by P. Lee Phillips, F.R.G.S., Chief 
of the Division of Maps and Charts. (Washington, Government 
Printing Office, 1901, pp. 1137.) 

Only such maps are listed as were in the library in November, 1897. Maps 
in books and atlases, and manuscript maps, such as those relating to the 
Revolution, in the Faden, Force, and Rochambeau collections are included. 

The Kohl Collection (now in the Library of Congress) of Maps relating to 
America, by Justin Winsor. A Reprint of Bibliographical Contribu- 
tion Number 1 9 of the Library of Harvard University. With Index 
by Philip Lee Phillips, Chief, Division of Maps and Charts. (Wash- 
ington, Government Printing Office, 1904, pp. 189.) 

A reprint without change, of the descriptive list published in 1886 by Har- 
vard University Library. An author list of maps, and a dictionary index of 
all subjects and authors mentioned has been added. 

A Check List of American Newspapers in the Library of Congress. Com- 
piled under the direction of Allan B. Slauson, Chief of Periodical 
Division. (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1901, pp. 292.) 



INDEX. 



AbaellinOj privateers, 52 

Accounts, auditing of, 81; of Department of 
State, 55; of receipts and expenditures of 
the United States, 72, 75; of United States 
Treasurer's office, 79; Revolutionary ac- 
counts, 84; accounting officers, see Auditors 

Active, schooner, 115 

Adams, Ebenezer, orderly-book of, 215 

Adams, H. A., letters of, 192 

Adams, John, letters of, 130, 214 

Adams, J. Q., letters to, 36; letters of, 278, 
280, 286 

Adams, United States frigate, 219 

Adams papers, 1 

Adirondack, log-book of, 189 

Agassiz, Louis, letters of, 290 

Agricultural colleges, endowment of, 86 

Agriculture, Department of, 230; audit of ac- 
counts of, 89 

Alabama, material relating to, in federal ar- 
chives, 298; territorial papers, 35 

Alabama, cruiser, 26 

Alabama Claims, 13, 54; arbitration of, 29 

Alaska, papers relating to schools of, 227; 
papers relating to the Russian possession 
of, 35; purchase of, 31 

Alden, James, papers of, 194 

Alexander, Lawson, letters of, 279 

Alexander, William, "earl of Stirling", 265 

Alexandria, papers of custom-house at, 276; 
riots at, 182 

Alger, Nicholas, orderly-book of, 214 

Aliens, control of, in war of 1812, 188 

Allen, A. H., Historical Archives of the De- 
partment of State, 33 

Allen, Ethan, 219 

Allen, Ira, correspondence of, 269, 272 

Allen, William, papers of, 278 

Alliance, log-book of, 187; muster-book of, 
278 

Almy, J. J., letter of, 182 

Alvarez, Juan, letter of, 8 

Ambler, John, letters to, 291 

Ambrister, R. C, trial of, 37 

America, four-hundredth anniversary of dis- 
covery of, 27; maps of, 295, 307 

America, ship, 115 

American Colonization Society, 180, 202 

American Conferences, International, 32, 296 

American Republics, International Bureau of, 
296 

American State Papers: Foreign Relations, 7 

American University, 274 

Ames, Fort, surrender of, 213 

Amherst College, 272 



Amiable Isabella, case of, 142 

Ammen, D., papers of, 194 

Amnesty cases, during Civil War, 144 

Analostan, cartel ship, log-book of, 188 

Anderson, Alexander, letters of, 289 

Andros, Sir Edmund, commission of, 294 

Annapolis, Nova Scotia, 262 

Annapolis Convention, 268 

Anspach, Peter, receipt-book of, 115 

Anthony, H. B., letters of, 290 

Antimasonic Almanac, 249 

Appleton, John, letters of, 279 

Appointments to office, 55; Department of 
Justice, 144; Interior Department, 204, 209, 
221; Navy Department, 183, 186; Treasury 
Department, 69, 71 

Arbitrations, papers relating to, 28, 34 

Arbuthnot, A., trial of, 37 

Arbuthnot, Admiral, 263 

Archer, Stevenson, letters of, 287 

Archer, W. S., letters of, 281 

Architect, see Supervising Architect 

Archives, books and articles relating to fed- 
eral, 297 

Argentine Republic, diplomatic correspondence 
with, 8; revolution at Buenos Ayres, 53 

Ariel, log-book of, 187 

Arizona, territorial papers of, 36, 203 

Arkansas, pardon of rebels in, 139; territorial 
papers of, 36 

Armenia, massacres in, 32 

Armstrong, Robert, letters of, 289 

Armstrong papers, 264 

Army, United States, Adjutant-general's of- 
fice, 106; general staff, 102, 105; inspection 
of, 118; mismanagement in Department of 
the West, 84; organization and history, 102; 
see also Military Records 

Army of the Potomac, Society of, 270 

Arnold, Benedict, 215, 216, 219 

Arnold, H. N. T., papers of, 194 

Aspinwall, W. H., papers of, 287 

Atherton, C. G., letters of, 288 

Atlee family, correspondence of, 278 

Attorney-General, letters of, 49; letters to, 22, 
61; opinions of, 49, 137, 143; papers of, 137; 
relations of, with Congress, 139 

Aubin, letters of, 290 

Auditor for Treasury Department, 81, 82 

Augusta, slaver, 202 

Austria, diplomatic correspondence with, 8, 27 

Averett, S. W., papers of, 195 

Babcock, General, instructions to, regarding 
Santo Domingo, 1 



309 



310 



Index. 



Baclic, Richard, postal accounts of, 153 
Badger. G. I'.., letters of, .'si 
Bailey, Theodore, papers of, 195 

Bainbridge, William, letters of, 178 

Baird. G, W.. papers of, I'll 

Baird, S. l\. letters of. ."><> 
Baker, J. McC* papers ot, IM 
Bald* Q. It., papers of, l!>i 
Baldwin) Jedathan, letters .if, 115 
Baldwin, Josiah, orderly-hook of, .'i<; 

Baldwlni Simeon, letter of, Hfl 

Balistier, .1.. :ti 
Ballard, II. I ■'... ISA 

Baltimore, att.uk on federal troops in, -81 ; 
committee of safety of, .'71; customs ad- | 
ministration it, lili ; defense of, ill 1SI1, ]ss 

Bancroft, George, letters of, 288, 292 
Bank of England, Maryland holdings in, 25 
Bank of the United states, til, <;.'. <;:». <ii ; 

pipers relating tO, MS] removal of deposits 

from, C"> 
Banks, relation of Cniti-d States Treasury 

with, 83, (it, 85] *ee alto National hanks 
Barbados, records of, -''d 

Barbary Powers, I7ii. 17 7; diplomatic cor- 
respondence with. 7, 9, 16; diplomatic rela- 
tions with. 17'» ; troubles with, 188; wars 
with. 17"); an nl.li, M or OCCO, Tripoli 

Barclay, Thomas, letters of, 278 

Barney, J. N„ papers of, 195 

Harney, Joshua, letters to, 179 

B.i mum. P. T., correspondence of, 247 

Barrell. Joseph, 48 

Barron, Samuel, papers of. IN 

Barn, John, papers of, 278 

Barry, W. T, letters of, no 

Bartiett, J. H., papers of, 194 

Bartlett. W. \., .11 

Bat tu re case, 51 

Bawsman, William, memorandum-hooks of, 217 

Bayard, J. A., letters of, 279, 280 

Bayard, Samuel, papers of, 30 

BciriMec. I.. \., papers of, 194 

Beaumarchais, P. ('. dc, claim of, 48, 288 

Beaumont, J. G., papers of, 194 

Behring Sea Arbitration, 34, 29 

Behring Straits, survey of, 185 

Belgium, diplomatic correspondence with, 9, 27 

Belknap, Jeremv, papers of, 264 

Bell, H. H., papers of, 192 

Bell, J. R., letter of, 38 

Benjamin, J. P., letters of, 271 

Benton, T. H., letters of 280, 292; letter to, 124 

Berlandier, Luis, papers of, 248 

Berlin Decree, 178 

Bernabue, interview of, with Monroe, 269 

Bernard de la Harpe, 50, 51 

Bernard, Sir Francis, papers of, 264 

Bibb, G. M, letters of, 281 

Biddle, James, letters of, 177; letter to, 179 

Biddle, Nicholas, letter of, 286 

Birch, S., letters of, 290 

Bird, J. G., letter of, 38 



Bishop, J., papers of, 194 

Black Hawk War, 116, 117 
Blackmar, A. O., Jr., papers of, 195 
Blaine, Kphraim, papers of, 278 
Blair, P, P., letters of, .•!>_' 
Blair, Montgomery, collection of Jackson pa- 
pers, .'s| 
Blake. II. c, papers Of, 194 
Blake, Thomas, receipt-book of, 212 

Blathwayt's journal, 3(i[i 

Blennerhassett, llarman, papers of, 279 

Blockade, list of vessels running, 74; of South- 
ern Coast, in Civil War, 53; running of, 64, 90 

Blount, J. II., 32 

Blount, William, letters of, 45 

Boardman, G. D., correspondence of, 274 

Bolivia, diplomatic correspondence with, 9, 27 

Bonds, [Jolted States, 76, 77 

Bonliam, M. I.., papers of, 271 

Book-keeping and Warrants, division of, Treas- 
ury Department, 71, 7 J 

Boscawcn, Admiral, 263 

Boston, customs administration at, 66; enforce- 
ment of fugitive slave law in, 142; list of 
taxable properly in, 97 

Boundaries, Florida, 261; Louisiana, 44, 49; 
Northeastern, 31, 269; Northwestern, 29; 
Southern, 49 

Bourne, Sylvanus, papers of, 279 

Boutelle, C. O., papers of, 194 

Boynton, Caleb, order-books of, 213 

Brackenridge, H. M., letter of, 38 

B ruddock, Edward, orderly-book of, 292 

Bragg, Braxton, papers of, 195 

Braine, D. L., papers of, 194 

Brazil, diplomatic correspondence with, 9, 27; 
letters relating to, 180, 181 

Breckinridge, R. J., letters of, 281 

Breckinridge papers, 279 

Bremen, tee Hanscatic States 

Brent, Daniel, memorandum-books of, 30 

Brent, T. W., papers of, 195 

Brevoort, J. C, letters of, 288 

Brivezac, reports of, upon Spanish colonies in 
South America, 260 

Brooke, J. M., papers of, 195 

Brown, Jacob, letter-books of, 279 

Brown, James, papers of, 280 

Brown, John, orderly-book of, 218 

Brown, John Carter, letters of, 288 

Brown, Orlando, letters of, 281 

Brown, Robert, orderly-book of, 215 

Browne, W'. R., papers of, 194 

Brunswick, letter from Duke of, 9 

Buchanan, Franklin, papers of, 195 

Buchanan, James, letters of, 130, 292; letters 
to, 14, 36; papers of, 1 

Buckmaster, Richard, orderly-book of, 213 

Buenos Ayres, revolution of 1780 in, 260 

Bulama arbitration, 29 

Bulfineh, Charles, letter to, 48 

Bulgaria, diplomatic correspondence with, 10, 14 

Bullock, J. D., papers of, 195 



Index. 



311 



Bunce, F. M., papers of, 194 

Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Treasury 

Department, 98 
Bureau of Indexes and Archives, Department 

of State, 3 
Bureau of Rolls and Library, Department of 

State, 5; functions of, 32; library of, 33; 

papers transferred from, 33 
Burgoyne, John, 268; campaign of, 214, 215 
Burke, Edmund, letters of, 288 
Burma, sacred writings of, 294 
Burnley, A. T., letters of, 281 
Burr, Aaron, conspiracy of, 45, 177, 269 
Butler, B. F., letters of, 142, 292 
Butler, Robert, letter of, 38 
Butler, W. O., letters of, 286 
Buyers, John, papers of, 217 
Byron, Admiral, 263 

Cabell, Dr., letters to, 284 

Cabinet, minutes of meeting of, 274 

Calhoun, John C, 284; letters of, 280, 283 

California, military government of, 117; 
Spanish manuscripts relating to, 221, 259; 
territorial papers of, 36; travels in, 260 

Callava, Jos6, papers relating to, 38 

Cambreleng, C. C, letters of, 291 

Cameron, Simon, letter of, 291 

Campbell, Arthur, letters to, 154 

Campbell, H. G., 138 

Campbell, Sir John, correspondence of, 248 

Canada, annexation of, 31; British expedi- 
tions against, 263; conspiracy for the in- 
vasion of, 49; Fenian invasion of, 140, 247; 
French and English wars in, 261; reciprocity 
with, 31, 53; revolutionary campaign against, 
215, 216 

Capitol, 203; correspondence relating to, 286; 
furnishing of, 83; papers relating to, 291 

Captured and Abandoned Property, division 
of, Treasury Department, 72 

Carey, H. C, letters of, 281 

Carr, T. N., letters of, 292 

Carroll, Charles, account-books of, 280 

Carroll, Gov. William, letters of, 209 

Carson, Benjamin, orderly-book of, 216 

Carson, H. L., Supreme Court of the United 
States, 250, 302 

Carter, W. F., papers of, 195 

Cary, Clarence, journal of, 54; papers of, 195 

Casa Calvo, Marquis of, correspondence with, 44 

Cass, Lewis, correspondence of, 36, 40, 116, 247, 
292; papers of, 286; papers relating to, 290 

Cater papers, 280 

Cathelan, correspondence of, 50 

Cattell, A. G, letter to, 1 

Cayuse Indians, 117 

Cayuse wars, papers relating to, 90 

Cazneau, W. L., 28 

Census, bureau of, 237; history of, 301; sched- 
ules of decennial, 238 

Central America, diplomatic correspondence of, 



10, 27, 28; papers relating to Spanish do- 
minion in, 259, 260 

Cevallos, P., letter of, 50 

Chambers, David, letters to, 280 

Champion, Henry, 216 

Champlain, Lake, battle of, 138 

Chandler, Zachariah, letters of, 291 

Charleston, enforcement of embargo at, 177; 
negroes carried from, 48 

Charlestown Navy Yard, 191 

Chase, Franklin, letter of, 182 

Chase, S. P., letters of, 60, 291; papers of, 280 

Chase, W., papers of, 194 

Chattanooga, campaign against, 105 

Chauncey, Isaac, letters to, 179 

Cherokee Indians, removal of, 208, 209 

Chesapeake, log-book of, 269 

Chesterfield, New Jersey, town docket of, 273 

Chickasaw Indians, treaty with, 70 

Child, L. M., letters of, 291 

Childress, J. W., letters of, 289 

Chile, diplomatic correspondence with, 11, 27; 
letters regarding, 181 

China, consulates in, 31 ; diplomatic correpond- 
ence with, 11; early voyage to, 294 

Chincha Island affair, arbitration of, 29 

Chinese, exclusion of, 236 

Church of England, 285 

Cincinnati, Society of, 268 

Civil Service Commission, 89, 242 

Civil War, amnesty cases during, 144 ; claims aris- 
ing out of, 73, 75, 253 ; coast survey service in, 
233 ; exchange of prisoners, 74 ; letters relating 
to navy in, 178, 179; list of vessels running 
blockade, 74; lists of prisoners of war, 117; 
military records of, 106, 108, 113, 116; naval 
records of, 174, 176, 192; Official Records 
of, 106, 108, 113; papers relating to, 26, 271; 
papers relating to navy in, 190; participa- 
tion of individual states in, 105; payments 
to volunteer military organizations during, 
84; photographs relating to, 105; postal ser- 
vice during, 149; prize cases in, 190; roster 
of officers and men engaged in, 114; run- 
ning of blockade during, 53; signal service 
records of, 133; transfer of vessels to 
foreign registry during, 63 

Claiborne, W. C. C, correspondence of, 41, 43, 
50; powers of, as governor, 177 

Claims, 84, 252; against foreign governments, 
30, 34; arising from War of 1812, 84; Beau- 
marchais, 48, 288; captured and abandoned 
property, 75, 138; cotton, 75; defense of, 
against United States government, 146; 
French spoliation, 50, 65, 73, 89, 146, 252, 
253; Indian depredation, 146, 253; revolu- 
tionary, 77; slave, in loyal states, 117; South- 
ern, 73, 75; Spanish claims commission, 89; 
see also Alabama claims, and Court of 
Claims 
Clapp, Joshua, book of, 213 



312 



Index. 



Clark, Daniel, correspondence of, 15, 49; In- 
formation regarding Louisiana, 11 

Clark, G. H., services of, .'."> 

Claxton, Thomas, accounts of, 83 

c lay, Henry, letter-book of, 16 j letters of, 280, 

Clayton, J. ML, letters of, 181 1 papers of, 180 
Clayton-Bulwer treaty, 180 

Clinton, Sir Henrv. 988 

Cliti, J. m. r... papers of, I9t 

en, Baron ran, journal of, 281 
i and Geodetic S ur vey , IS! 

Cockburn, Martin, papers of, 281 

i . 11.. letters of, 188 
.11. .). {,., letters of, 
CogswelL Thomas, letter-books of, 116 

. n 

Cole, Thomas, orderly-hook of, 213 

Coleman, Kiclianl, letters of, 878 

Colhoon, r.. EL, papers of, 191 

Colombia, diplomatic correspondence with, 1 1, 2" 

Colonisation of negroes, i*<>, M9 

Colorado, territorial papers of, 36 

Gohmbia, cruise of, i s ">; log-book of, 48 

Colombia River, assertion of American au- 
thority on, .').'; claims bo territory drained 
by, 179; papers relating to, 48 

Columbus Codex, 858, 303 

Columbus Memorial Library, 296 

Colville, Admiral. 263 

Cotmnetcet American, depredations on, during 
Napoleonic wars, .'79; colonial, 283, 285; 

papers relating t", 290, 295 
("inmiTcc and Labor, Department of, 231; 
audit of accounts of, 89 

Commissary-General, office of, 123 

Committees of safety, 272, 273, 274 

Comptroller of the Currency, 98 

Comptroller of the Treasury, decisions of, 80; 
office of, 79 

Confederate States, acts of Congress of, 271 ; 
aid to, throughout the West, 53; archives of, 
108, 110, 117; diplomatic archives of, 306; 
diplomatic correspondence of, 73; Congress 
of, 95, 114, 117; custom-house papers of, 
271; foreign construction of naval vessels 
for, 190; Judiciary Department, 117; naval 
papers of, 26, 117; postal records of, 94; 
postmasters of, 169; Post-Office Department, 
117, 270; privateers of, 190; State Depart- 
ment, 73, 117, 270; Treasury Department, 
74, 117; War Department, 117 

Congress, bills and resolutions introduced in, 
255, 256, 257; correspondence of members of, 
with Treasury Department, 61, 62; corre- 
spondence of Navy Department with mem- 
bers of, 183, 184; inquiries from, to Treas- 
ury Department, 77; letters of members of, 
to Interior Department, 201 ; letters of Post- 
masters-General to members of, 149, 152; 
members of, mileage accounts, 83; petitions 
and memorials to, 255, 256; records of books 
drawn from Library of Congress by mem- 



bers of, 274; relations of Attorney-General 
with, 139 J relations of, with departments, 
6-.\ (i:t; .v< < also Continental Congress, Senate, 
House of Representatives 

Connecticut boundary of colony of, 262; 
colonial and state papers of, 264, 272; mili- 
tary service In American Revolution, 215; 
relations with Continental Loan Office, 272 

Conner, Timothy, journal of, 268 

Constitution, adoption of, by North Carolina, 

j;<i; documentary history of the, 34; papers 
relating to formation of, 38} Paterson's 
plan or, 868; ratification of amendments, by 

stales, IS 

Constitution, frigate, papers relating to, 188 

Constitutional Convention of 1787, Madison's 
notes of debates in, 34, 268; Washington's 
diary during, J!)J 

Consular archives, 3, 6, 20; consular papers 
not in, 11 

Consular Bureau, Department of State, 54 

Consular correspondence, 27, 279 

Consular Reports, publication of, 240 

Consular service, accounts relating to, 88 

Consular system, report on, 26 

Consuls, 55; fees of, 26; status of, 52 

Consumptives, sanatorium for, 100 

Continental Congress, Continental Loan Of- 
fice, 77, .'7.', _>;:$; correspondence of states 
With, 271, 272; journals of, 266; papers of, 
33, 47, 77, 265, 303; papers of Robert Mor- 
ris as Superintendent of Finance of, 288; 
post-office records of, 152 

Continental currency, 63 

Conway, II. S., official correspondence of, 261 

Cooke, A. P., papers of, 194 

Cooke, J. W., papers of, 195 

Coombs, Leslie, letters of, 281 

Cooper, C. D., memorandum-book of, 273 

Cooper, Gilbert, receipt-book of, 216 

Cooper, Rev. Dr. Samuel, letters of, 261, 262 

Cooper, Thomas, letters of, 292 

Coppinger, Joseph, letter of, 38 

Corbin, T. G., papers of, 194 

Cordero, A., letter of, 50 

Cornwallis, Lord, 268; surrender of, 219 

Corporal punishment in the navy, 190 

Corporations, Bureau of, 236 

Corte y Ruano Calderon, F. M. de, Historia de 
las Li Ian Marianas, 278 

Corwin, Thomas, letters of, 281 

Costa Rica, arbitration of dispute with Nica- 
ragua, 29; see also Central America 

Cotton, Theophilus, 214 

Counterfeiting, 99 

Court of Claims, appointments to, 144; defense 
of suits in, 146; papers of, 252; salaries of 
judges of, 89 

Courts-martial, military, 270; naval, 199; rec- 
ords of, 121 

Courts of the United States, 89, 141; appoint- 
ment of judges and of officers of, 144; see 
also Supreme Court, Court of Claims 



Index. 



313 



Couturie, Amadee, 54 

Craig, Isaac, letter to, 154 

Cralle, R. K., letters to, 284 

Craven, T. A. M., letter-book of, 192 

Craven, T. T., papers of, 194 

Crawford, G. W., letters to, 290, 291; papers 
of, 281 

Crawford, W. H., letters of, 292 

Creamer, David, diary of, 281 

Creek Indians, emigration of, 209; wars with, 
116, 117 

Creesy, J. P., 186 

Creole, expedition of, 203 

Crete, revolution in, 182 

Cripps, letters of, 270 

Crittenden, J. J., letters of, 280; papers of, 281 

Crittenden, Robert, letters of, 36 

Croghan, George, letters of, 286 

Cromwell, Henry, letters to, 262 

Crosby, P., papers of, 194 

Cuba, 190, 191, 277; archives of, 53; diplomatic 
correspondence with, 12; filibustering expedi- 
tion against, 203; government of, 133; im- 
portance of, to United States, 50; insurrec- 
tion in, 140; letters regarding, 181; papers 
relating to, 260; records of American occu- 
pation of, 135, 136; refugees from, 45 

Cumberland road, 62 

Curacao, consular archives, 50 

Curry, B. F., papers of, 209 

Curtis, G. R., letters of, 279 

Cushing, Caleb, letters of, 288 

Cushing, Jacob, diary of, 282 

Customs duties, see Tariff, Customs 

Cyane, log-book of, 189 

Dahlgren, J. A., papers of, 192 

Daingerfield, Henry, 41 

Dakota, territorial papers of, 37, 203 

Daniel, J. M., diplomatic correspondence of, 27 

Davenport, H. K., letter-books of, 193 

Davis, C. A., letters of, 281 

Davis, C. H., papers of, 194 

Davis, J. C. B., letters of, 29 

Davis, Jefferson, letters of, 247, 288, 292; pa- 
pers of, 282 ; papers relating to capture of, 84 

Davis, John, letters of, 281; papers of, 282 

Davis, T. J., letter of, 38 

Dead letters, 170 

Dead Sea, expedition to, 185 

Deaf and Dumb, Columbia Institution for, 86 

Dearborn, Henry, 206; correspondence of, 41; 
papers of, 282 

Debt, public, accounting of, 82; records of, 
76, 77 

Decatur, Stephen, letters of, 177; letters to, 179 

Decatur, log-book of, 189 

Declaration of Independence, 300 

Delaware, papers relating to, 274 

Delmont y Aponte, Domingo, papers of, 260 

De Long, G. W., journal of, 186 

Deming, Julius, accounts of, 216 

Denison, G. S., letters of, 282 



Denmark, diplomatic correspondence with, 12, 
19, 27; papers relating to, 294 

Departments, see the names of the several de- 
partments 

Dermott, J. R., plan and map of Washing- 
ton, 131 

Detroit, 269; surrender of, 40 

Dewey and Carson, letter-book of, 295 

Dickins papers, 282 

Dickinson, John, papers of, 274 

Dinwiddie, Robert, letters of, 275 

Diplomatic archives, 3, 4; diplomatic papers 
not in, 21 

Diplomatic Bureau, Department of State, 54 

Diplomatic correspondence, 27; American Rev- 
olution, 47; ceremonial letters, 26, 34; naval 
papers upon foreign relations, 174 

Diplomatic Correspondence of the United 
States, 1783-1789, 47 

Diplomatic service, accounts relating to, 88 

Direct tax, 83 

District of Columbia, 203; appointment of 
judicial officers of, 144; audit of accounts of, 
89; claims against, 146, 253; land specula- 
tions in, 288; list of papers relating to, 299, 
301; loans of, 65; papers relating to, 37, 
129, 274; reform schools of, 144; sinking 
fund of, 77; see also Washington City 

Dix, J. A., letters of, 292 

Dobbs Ferry, 213 

Dockets, of cases affecting United States rev- 
enues, 145; of cases to which United States 
has been party, 143; United States Supreme 
Court, 250 

Dolson, Peter, orderly-book of, 267 

Dominguez, Father, diary of, 248 

Dominican Republic, annexation of, to United 
States, 1, 31; diplomatic correspondence 
with, 12, 14, 28; emigrants from, 25 

Donelson, A. J., letters of, 289 

Doss, Sylvester, papers of, 194 

Douglas, Ephraim, 218 

Douglas, S. A., letters of, 291 

Draper, S., letters of, 281 

Drayton, P., papers of, 194 

Duane, William, letters of, 282 

Duane, William J., letters of, 65, 287; Nar- 
rative and Correspondence Concerning the 
Removal of Deposits, 65 

Dudley, Guilford, 219 

Dunbar, William, correspondence of, 45, 49 

Duncan, H. H, letters of, 279 

Dunn, Josiah, 219 

Du Pont, S. F., papers of, 193 

Durell, Admiral, 263 

Dutch West India Company, 260 

Duval, W. P., letter of, 38 

Duvall, R. C, papers of, 195 

Dyer, N. M., papers of, 194 

Eagle, H., papers of, 194 
Ealer, H. A., papers of, 194 
East Florida, revolution in, 37 



314 



Indfx. 



Eastman, T. H., papers of, 19-1 

Eaton, William, letters of, 269, 289 

Economic history, papers illustrative of Eng- 
lish, 294; see alto Commerce 

Ecuador, diplomatic correspondence with, 12,27 

F.ddy, Jonathan, papers of, 213 

Kdmondson, H. 15., papal of, 195 

Education, Bureau of, 226; Commissioner of, 
correspondence, 202 

Bggleston, E. T., papers of, 195 

Egypt, diplomatic correspondence, 13; protec- 
tion of missionaries in, 1S1 

/."■' DOfWlO, ship, affair of. 190 

1 lections, presidential, 140, .'l!» 

Electoral Commission, papen of, 26 

i -.Met. \. \v., papen of, ioi 

ElliCOtt, Andrew, letters of, 130; papers of, 49 

Fills papers, 
Ellison, 1 . II.. -'in 
Embargo, <•'■. enforeemeot of, 177 
Emmons, Q. I'., papers of, l * • t 
Engineers, papers In office of Chief of, UM 
raying and Printing, Bnrean of, 98 

BrrickSOn, Michael, journal of, .217 

Erring, ('•. w., letters of, 279 

Ethnology, Bureau of American, Mi> 

Evans, Benjamin, order-hook of, 216 
Everett, A. II., letters of, 9; letters to, 278 
Everett, Edward, letters of, 53 
Bwing, Thomaa, letters of, m 

7. 11 1. log-book of, 189 

Expenditures of United States government, 

?-', n 

I'.j-j'i rinn nt, log-hook of, 189 

Exploring expeditions, under direction of 
I'nitcd States Government, 1SI 

Expositions, 29; centennial, M8j Vienna, 54 

Extradition, 55; papers relating to, 31; war- 
rants of. -'-' 

Fairfax, D. McM., papers of, 194 

Fairfax, G. W, 281 

Fairies, T. A., papers of, 195 

Fammy, ship. 138 

Farragut, D. G., letters of, 178, 182, 192; pa- 
pers of, 193 

Farrand, Ebenezcr, papers of, 195 

Fearn, Walker, letters of, 270 

Federal Convention, tee Constitutional Con- 
vention 

Fenians, invasion of Canada by, 140, 247 

Fiji Islands, claims in, 32 

Fillmore, Millard, letters of, 130, 281 

Finlav, Hugh, journal of, 150 

Fisher, J. W., letter to, 142 

Fisheries, Bureau of, 240; documents relating 
to Canadian, 30; Northeastern, 181 

Fitch, Jabez, diary of, 215 

Fitch, John, papers of, 282 

Fitch, Nathaniel, 216 

Flagg, A. C, letters of, 292 

Flor de Ouadiano, 138 

Florida, 124; archives of, 52; boundary of, 49, 



261, 276; correspondence with United States 
official in, 25; description of, under Spanish 
dominion, 259; documents relating to Spanish 
occupation of, 276; Indian wars in, 116, 117; 
land titles in, 142; return of fugitive slaves 
to Spanish authorities of, 21 ; Spanish ar- 
chives of, 276; territorial papers, 37; tee 
alto East Florida, West Florida 

Florida, cruiser, 26 

I'lusser, C. W., papers of, 190 

Folch, Governor, correspondence, 45 

Pont diary, 248, 259 

Foote, A. H., papers of, 193 

Forbes, J. G., letter of, 38 

Forbes, J. M., letters of, 279 

Force, Peter, American Archive!, 303; papers 
of, 263; transcripts, 114 

Ford, W. C, Publication of Historical Ma- 
lt rial In/ the I' uited States Government, 298 

Foreign affairs, papers in naval records re- 
lating to, 174 

Foreign Relations of the United States, Papers 
relating to the, 7 

Forest Service, 230 

Forman, Joseph, letters of, 279 

Formosa, expedition to, 183 

Forrest, French, papers of, 195 

Forsyth, John, letters of, 292 

Forton prisoners' manuscripts, 267 

Fort Pillow " Massacre ", 60 

Fort Stanton, sanatorium for consumptives 
at, 100 

Foster, J. W., despatches of, 29 

Foxardo affair, 269 

POX Indians, war with, 116 

Frailey, J. M., papers of, 194 

France, American colonies of, 260; commercial 
relations with, before war of 1812, 178; con- 
dition of, in 1849, 181 ; diplomatic corre- 
spondence with, 4, 5, 13, 27; diplomatic re- 
lations with, during American Revolution, 
48; imports from, 53; negotiations with, 30; 
troops of, in America during the Revolu- 
tion, 268, 281, 290; violations of neutrality, 
21; wars of, with England, 261, 264, 272; 
war of, with Germany, 140 

Franklin, Benjamin, letter of, 214; letters to, 
261; papers of, 33, 47, 282, 305; postal ac- 
counts of, 153 

Franklin, William, 273 

Franklin, William B., papers of, 283 

Freedman's Bureau, records of, 107 

Free Trade, ship, capture of, 268 

Fremont, J. C, court-martial of, 121 

French spoliation claims, 50, 65, 73, 89, 146, 
252, 253 

Friendly Islands, correspondence, 28 

Fritsch, Baron von, diary of, 283 

Frolic, brig, capture of, 177 

Fromentin, E., letter of, 38 

Fugitive slaves, see Slaves 

Fulton, Robert, letters of, 184 

Fur-trade, 40, 208 



Index. 



315 



Gadsden, James, letter of, 38 

Gage, Thomas, letters of, 264 

Gaines, E. P., report of, concerning Indian af- 
fairs, 120 

Gallatin, Albert, instructions to, 31; letters of, 
279, 283; reports to Congress by, 61 

Galloway papers, 283 

Gallup, Nehemiah, 215 

Gait, Francis L., papers of, 195 

Galveston, correspondence of American con- 
sulate at, 53 

Gambier, Admiral, 263 

Gansevoort, Guert, papers of, 189 

Garces, Francisco, diary of, 248, 259 

Garcia Figueroa, Francisco, Documentos para 
la historia ecclesiastica y civil de la provincia 
de Texas, 277 

Gardner, Dr., 262 

Gardner, J. W., papers of, 194 

Garfield, J. A., assassination of, 27 

Garth, Charles, papers of, 264 

Gates, Horatio, orderly-book of, 264 

Gayoso de Lemos, Manuel, letters of, 49 

Geary, J. W., letter of, 39 

General Armstrong, brig, arbitration, 28 

General Blake, brig, 138 

Geneva arbitration, 29 

Geological Survey, 227; accounts of disbursing 
officers of, 86; correspondence of, 202 

Georgia, colonial and state papers of, 264; 
Florida boundary of, 261, 276; papers re- 
lating to, 27G 

Germany, diplomatic correspondence with, 13; 
United States special agent in, 28 

Ghent, treaty of, 30 

Gherardini, Giovanni, account of voyage to 
China, 294 

Giddings, Edward, 249 

Gift, G. W„ papers of, 195 

Gilman, Nicholas, papers of, 284 

Gilmore, R. T., estate of, 277 

Gist, Mordecai, papers of, 264 

Glen, Henry, papers of, 264 

Glidden, G. R., letters of, 290 

Glisson, O. S., papers of, 194 

Goldsborough, H. A., papers of, 194 

Goldsborough, J. R., papers of, 194 

Goldsborough, L. M., letters of, 193 

Goodwyn, M. P., papers of, 195 

Gordon trial, 264 

Gore, Christopher, letters of, 279 

Government Printing Office, audit of accounts 
of, 89 

Gowans, William, letters of, 288 

Graham, John, correspondence of, 51 

Granger, Francis, letters of, 281 

Grant, U. S., letter-books of, 1; letters of, 247 

Graves, Admiral, 262, 263 

Gray, Robert, journal of, 48 

Gray, Samuel, correspondence of, 264 

Great Britain, Admiralty papers of, 263 ; Amer- 
ican colonies of, 261, 265; Board of Trade 
and Plantations, 262, 294; colonies in West 



Indies, 51; Commissioners of Trade, 262, 294; 
difficulties with, on northern frontier, 22; 
diplomatic correspondence with, 4, 5, 13; 
House of Lords, 294; letter-books of Naval 
Commissioners of, 187; naval papers of, 294; 
navy of, 262 ; negotiations with, regarding im- 
pressment of seamen, 30; Parliament, debates 
in, 262, 294; restrictions on neutral commerce, 
51; treaty of 1783 with United States, 268; 
troops in American colonies of, 261; viola- 
tions of American neutrality by, 21, 49; see 
also War of 1812, Revolution, American 

Greece, diplomatic correspondence with, 14 

Greeley, Horace, letters of, 291 

Green, Duff, papers of, 284 

Green, J. F., papers of, 194 

Greene, Nathanael, letter-books of, 284; North 
Carolina campaign of, 219 

Greer, J. A., papers of, 194 

Gregg, James, orderly-book of, 216 

Gregory, Admiral, records of office of, 198 

Gregory, George J., letters of, 279 

Greytown, bombardment of, 31 

Grimes, J. W., letters of, 291 

Grinnell, M. H, letters of, 281 

Griswold, Stanley, letters of, 40 

Grosvenor, prison ship, 219 

Grundy, Felix, letters of, 281 

Guam, records of, 278 

Guatemala, see Central America 

Gunnison, Benjamin, 214 

Gunther, C. F., papers of, 195 

Guthrie, J. J., papers of, 195 

Gutierrez, Bernardo, correspondence of, 51, 269 

Haggerty, F. S., papers of, 194 

Haines, Hiram, papers of, 284 

Haiti, diplomatic correspondence with, 14 

Halderman, J. A., papers of, 247 

Halifax, Lord, papers of, 262 

Halliwell-Phillips CoUection, 294 

Halsey, Zephaniah, 267 

Hamilton, Alexander, papers of, 33, 284 

Hamilton, James, letters of, 281 

Hamilton, J. A., letters of, 291 

Hamtramck, J. F., 269 

Hand, Edward, letters of, 264 

Hanover, commercial relations with, 14 

Hanseatic States, diplomatic correspondence 

with, 13 
Hanson, A. C, letters of, 287 
Harbeck, C. T., Bibliography of the United 

States Navy, 174 
Hardin, Mark, account-book of, 218 
Hardwick papers, 262 
Hardy, Admiral, 263 

Harlan, James, letters of, 281; papers of, 195 
Harper, R. G, letters of, 287 
Harris, Levett, letters of, 279 
Harrison, Benjamin, letter of, 25 
Harrison, R. M., 51 
Harrison, W. H, letters of, 286; presidential 

campaign of, 249 



316 



Index. 



Hart, A. B., Foundations of American Foreign 
PoUoy, ', ; Trial Bibttograpk* of American 
Diplomacy, 7 

Hartley, David) Franklin's correspondence 

Willi.' 1^ 

Harvard Colli 

Haskins, Thomas, foornalfl of, i84 

Hualer letters, 

Havana, correspondence of the captain-general 
mi', :; ; ; i Dguah capture of, MO 

Haven, S. 1'., fetters of, 188 

Hawaii, conditions in kingdom of, 189] diplo- 
matic c o rresponde nc e with, 1 1. 18; letter re- 
lating to, 38; papers regarding, :{.' 

Hawthorne, Nathaniel, letters of, 

Hayes, tt H. Liters of, 141 

id, I .liene/.r, postal accounts (if, 159 
ll.i/en, M 

Heath, II. II.. letter of, I.' 
Heath, William, il« 
Heatherby Indian war, ll" 
Henderson, Alexander, papers of, 195 
Henry, John, papers, 

Henry, Joseph, letters of, 290 
Herndon, William, letters of, .'!>! 

Herrera \ Loisaga, voyages of, 260 

Ilieks, T. II., letters of, 

Hill, Rowland, I. -tier of. 169 

Hoar. G. 1.. Mutiriiil far Historical Btudjf 

in Washington, -''*■ 
Hodgdon, Samuel, leltcr-liooks of, 115 

I (odges, Henry, letters of, 1 1 1 

Hodges, V7. It., papers of, 196 
. I . I... papers of, i" "< 

Holdernesse, Lord, despatches "f, B69 

Holland, >•< Netherlands 

Holilns, G. v. i ipers of, 195 

Holmes, David, letters of, II 

Holt, Joseph, papers of, 184 

Honduras, treaty regarding, 260; see also 
Central America 

Hone, Philip, letters of, 287 

Hood, Commodore, 263 

Hooker, Edward, papers of, 194 

Hope, brigantine, journal of, 269 

If'iinct, sloop, 178 

House of Representatives, audit of accounts 
of, 89; papers of, 256; see also Congress 

House tax insurrection, 273 

Howard, B. C, letters of, 287 

Howard University, 86 

Howe, Admiral, 263 

Howell, J. C, papers of, 190, 194 

Hudson's Bay Company, claims of, 43 

Huger, letters of, 270* 

Hughes, Christopher, letters of, 9, 281 

Hull, Isaac, letters of, 177, 178 

Hull, J. B., papers of, 194 

Hull, William, 50; court-martial of, 121; letters 
of, 40 

Hunt, Gaillard, American Passport, 56; Calen- 
dar of Applications and Recommendations 
for Office during the Presidency of George 



Washington, 55, 300; Department of State 

of the united Statss, ' 
Hunt, James, account-hook of, 218 
Hunt, Washington, letters of, 281 
Hunter, W. W M papers of, 195 
Hutehins, Anthony, correspondence, 49 

Hyatt, Captain, orderly-hook of, 216 
Hyde papers, ,'li.' 

Idaho, territorial papers of, 38, 203 

lie S \ ache. JO.' 

Illinois, territorial papers of, 38 

immigrants, medical inspect ion of alien, 100 

Immigration, papers relating to, 236 

Impressment of .seamen, 30, 50 

I nth i>< iuh iu< , cruise of, 185; log-hook of, 189 

Indiana, territorial papers of, 38 

Indians, accounts of expenses relating to, 85; 
Cay use, 90; Chickasaw, correspondence re- 
lating to, 70; Choctaw, 262; claims arising 
from depredations of, 146, 253; Commis- 
sioner of Indian Affairs, 202, 205; corre- 
spondence regarding governmental relations 
uilh, Jul, 906; ethnology of, 247, 290; ex- 
pedition against, in Oregon Territory, 43; 
in Georgia, 264; in Indiana, 39; in Louisiana, 
45; in Mississippi Territory, 41; in New 
.Mexico, 49; in North Carolina, 219; in 
Southwest Territory, 45; languages of, 248; 
laws and decisions relating to, 206; papers 
of Schoolcraft as agent of, 247, 290; report 
concerning the affairs of, 120; rolls of 
friendly, 84; treaties with, 34, 70, 139, 206; 
wars with, 90, 109, 116, 117, 247; works re- 
lating to, 216; Znfli, 277 

Indian Territory, 110 

Ingersoll, Jarcd, papers of, 264 

Ingham, S. D., letters of, 292 

In graham, Joseph, 269 

Ino, journal of, 186 

Insane, Government Hospital for the, 86 

Insolvent debtors of United States, 70 

Insular Affairs, Bureau of, War Department, 
133 

Interior Department, auditor of, 85; letters 
to, from executive departments, 61, 201 ; 
letters to, from members of Congress, 201 ; 
organization and history, 200 

Internal improvements, 62 

Internal Revenue, auditing of accounts of, 82; 
Commissioner of, 68; decisions of the com- 
missioner of, 90; destruction of early ac- 
counts of, 76; enforcement of laws regard- 
ing, 140; letters and papers relating to the 
administration of, 68, 71 ; papers relating to 
collection of, 96 

International Bureau of the American Re- 
publics, 296 

International law, library of, 33 

Interstate Commerce Commission, 89, 244 

Ireland, debates in Parliament of, 294 

Irrigation, papers relating to, 222, 230 

Irving, Washington, letters of, 292 



Index. 



317 



Isthmian Canal Commission, accounts of, 84 
Italy, diplomatic correspondence with, 15, 16, 
19; position of papacy in, 181 

Jackson, Andrew, correspondence of, 22, 65, 
130, 291; journal describing New Orleans 
campaign of, 128; papers of, 284; papers 
relating to governorship of Florida, 37; re- 
moval of deposits from United States Bank, 
65; report of inspection of army under com- 
mand of, 119 

Jackson, T. A., papers of, 195 

Jackson, W. H., papers of, 195 

Jamieson, Neil, papers of, 285 

Japan, diplomatic correspondence with, 15; 
negotiations with, 183; Perry's mission to, 181 

Jappie, Paul, 268 

Jeannette, voyage of, 186 

Jefferson, Thomas, batture case, 51; corre- 
spondence of, 45, 130; gunboat policy of, 
177; journal of private secretary of, 51; 
Memoir upon the boundaries of Louisiana, 
45; papers of, 33, 285, 305; purchase of the 
library of, 302 

Jefferson Territory, 36 

Jenkins, T. A., papers of, 194 

Jesuits, in French colonies, 260; in Mexico, 259 

Johanna, King of, 191 

John Adams, log-book of, 189 

Johnson, Andrew, administration of, 63; letters 
of, 130; papers of, 285 

Johnson, Cave, letters of, 289 

Johnson, H. D., 30 

Johnson, Reverdy, 54; letters of, 280, 281, 287 

Johnson, R. M., letters of, 281 

Johnson, Sir William, papers of, 285 

Johnston, Joseph E., 271 

Johnston, J. V., papers of, 194 

Johnston, W. D., History of the Library of 
Congress, 302 

Jones, C. L., papers of, 195 

Jones, Catesby ap R., papers of, 195 

Jones, Evans, 45 

Jones, Jacob, letter of, 177 

Jones, John Paul, papers of, 187, 285, 304 

Jones, Capt. T. Ap C, 178, 185 

Jones, W. C, 28 

Judah, H. M., military journal of, 286 

Judge- Advocate-General, office of, 120; Navy 
Department, 199 

Justice, Department of, 137; audit of accounts, 
89; library, 138; use of records of, 138 

Kanawha county, Virginia, military records of, 

218 
Kansas, territorial papers of, 39 
Kearnev, Lawrence, correspondence of, 181 
Keim, be B. R., 31 
Kemper, outrages, 45 
Kendall, Amos, correspondence of, 65, 248, 

292; postal service under, 149 
Kendrick, Captain, 48 



Kennebunk, Maine, custom-house records of, 

271 
Kennedy, J. P., letters of, 41, 281 
Kent, James, papers of, 286 
Kentucky, boundaries of, 281; papers relating 

to, 277, 279; slave claim commission in, 117 
Kilgore, W. F., papers of, 194 
Kindelan, Sebastian, letters of, 37 
King, Nicholas, letters of, 130 
King, Pendleton, Inventory of Archives in the 

Bureau of Indexes and Archives, 4, 299 
King, Preston, letters of, 291 
King, Robert, letters of, 130 
King, Rufus, 272; letters of, 291 
Kingsbury, Jacob, letters of, 286 
Knepp, J., journals of, 262 
Knights of the Golden Circle, 53 
Kohl collection of maps, 295, 307 
Korea, 183; diplomatic correspondence with, 15 
Kosloff, N, arrest of, 52 
Kossuth, Louis, reception of, by American 

fleet, 181 
Ku Klux movement, 140 

Labor, Bureau of, 235 

La Harpe, Benard de, journal of, 50, 51 

Lamar, G. B., letters of, 281 

Lamb, John, papers of, 264 

Lamb, William, papers of, 195 

Lamphere, G. N., The United States Govern- 
ment, 57 

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, committee of 
safety, 273 

Lands, abandoned, 72; Illinois and Wabash, 
papers concerning, 18; opinions of Attorney- 
General relating to titles of, 143; titles to, 
in Missouri and Florida, 142 

Lands, public, accounts of financial transactions 
concerning, 85; correspondence relating to, 
65, 202; decisions regarding, 200, 223; grant 
of, to railroads, 139; General Land Office, 66, 
202, 219; in Mississippi and Tennessee, 49; 
in territories, 62; papers relating to, 220; 
state claims to moneys arising from sale of, 
63; trespass upon, 140 

Lardner, J. L., papers of, 194 

Latch, E. B., papers of, 194 

Latrobe, B. H., correspondence of, 286 

Laughlin, S. H., letters of, 289 

Laussat, P. C, views of, as to boundaries of 
Louisiana, 50 

Lawrence, Abbott, letters of, 280, 282 

Lawrence, A. A., letters of, 282 

Lawrence, James, letters of, 177 

Lear, Tobias, letters of, 289 

Lee, Arthur, letter of, 214 

Lee, Charles, 268 

Lee, R. B., claims commission, 84 

Lee, R. E., letter of, 247 

Lee, R. H., 281 

Lee, S. P., papers of, 194 

Leech, D. D. T., Department of State, 1789- 
1866, 2 



318 



liuhw. 



L'Enfant, P. c. letters of, ISOj plan of Wash- 
ington by, LSI 

I.cno\, James, let ti-r-, of, >^ 

.1. I I., litter^ of, 177 

Leprosy experiment station, loo 
Le Roy, w. EL, papers of, 194 
Letcher, u. P.. letters of, >.' 

. tog-booh of, 170 
/ iniii'ni. merchanl ship, loir-book of, 269 
Liberia, diplomatic correspondence with, 14, 

1 1 ; Independence of, vt 
Llbran oi Congre ss , ->T; audit of accounts 

of, B9; historj of, ■>"-'; manuscripts In, K7| 

papers relating to, 998] published accounts 

of papers In, :ii>.' 

Library Of ttW Department of Stall-. «f 

Bureau of Rolls and Library 

I.ielier, Francis, litter of, .'Mi 

Life-saving service, lOlj papers <>f General 
Superintendent of, '•' 

Life-saving stations, correspondence regard- 
ing, TO 

Light-bouses, papers relating to, 84 

Lincoln, Abraham, accounts of, as postmaster 
at New Salem, Illinois, 99) ass.issinat ion of, 

26, 54, li-': correspondence relating to the 

death of, 13; letters of. .H7. 280; trial of 

conspirators to as.,;issiiiate, 121 

Lindsay, J. \\\, papers of, 195 

Lining, John, orderly-book of, 187 

Liquor, use of, in tlie Annv, 194, 190 

Little, .lames, 119 

Littiepage, ll. B . papers of, in.i 

Livennore, George, letters of, ,'sS 

Livingston, Edward, l>atture claims of, 51; 
letters of, - , !'.' 

Livingston, it. it., c orr e s pondence of, 50 

Loans and Currency, Division of, Treasury 
Department, "1 

Log-I.ooks. 176, 197; list of, 301; revenue 
cutters, 68 

Longstreet, James, .'17 

Loria, Admiral de, report of, 259 

Lottery, 153; suppression of Louisiana, 147 

Louisiana, administration of justice in, 45; 
archives of, 69; boundaries of, 44, 49, 50; 
cession of, 44, 49, 50; French in, 50, 277; 
ill-treatment of French in, 23; papers re- 
lating to, before the cession, 44; papers re- 
lating to, after American occupation, 280; 
purchase of, 44, 49, 50 

Jjauuiana, explosion of powder-boat, 193 

Louisiana Territory, 39 

Lowerv, Woodburv, collection of manuscripts 
of, 959 

Loyalist papers, 267, 306 

Loyall, B. P., papers of, 195 

Luce, S. B., papers of, 194 

Lukens, Charles, diary of, 218 

Lumpkin, Governor, letters of, 209 

Lunt, George, letters of, 281 

Luxemburg, diplomatic correspondence with, 15 



Lynch, 1'. N, idlers of, 270 
Lynch, \Y. !•'., is;, 

Mabtl, ship, 138 

Mc\rthur, Duncan, papers of, 286 

McCalla, B. 11.. expedition of, to Isthmus of 

Panama, 191 
McCann, W. P., papers of, 194 
McCarrick, Patrick, papers of, 195 
McCarrick, Patrick II., papers of, 195 

McCauley, Bdward, papers of, 194 
McCauley, B. Y., papers of, 194 
McCready, Robert, papers of, 218 
McCully, George, diary of, 218 
M.-Danncl, H., Letters to, I8« 

McDonngh, John, letters of, „>87 
Macdnnough, Thomas, letters of, 177 
McDiillic, George, letter of, -'H(i 

McGregor, Gregor, correspondence of, 51 

Mcllcnry, .lames, letters of, 278 
Melnlosli, .lames, letter to, 12 

Mackav, George, papers of, 194 

McKean, W. W., letter-books of, 193 

McKee, John, letters of, 37 

McKcn/.ic, \V. L., letters of, 288 

Mackie, .1. P., papers of, 194 
Mackic, .1. S., report of, 29 

McLaughlin, A. ('., Diplomatic Archives of the 
Deport mint of Stale, llH'J-lS/,0, 4, 5, 7, 299 

McLean, James, orderly-book of, 217 

McLean, John, letters of, 149; papers of, 286 

Mc.Michael, Morton, letters of, 281 

Macomb, W. H., 178; papers of, 194 

Madison, Bishop, lectures of, on natural phi- 
losophy, i->H7 

Madison, Dolly, papers of, 286 

Madison, James, correspondence of, 8, 45, 130, 
306; debates of the federal convention, 34, 
268; papers of, 33, 286 

Magruder, J. B., papers of, 195 

Mah.-in, A. T., papers of, 194 

Mails, dead letters, 170; foreign, 163; free city 
delivery of, 159; railway mail service, 150, 
161; registered, 168; rural delivery of, 151, 
170; transportation of, 93, 94, 150; see also 
Postal service 

Maine, 262 

Mangum, W. P., letters of, 281, 282 

Mann, A. D., letters of, 28, 270; letters to, 271 

Manufactures, Bureau of, 240 

Maps, of America, 295, 307; of coast and 
geodetic surveys, 232; in Library of Con- 
gress, 295; military, 127; of postal routes, 
171; of public land surveys, 223; of Spanish 
possessions in North America, 259; topo- 
graphical, 240; of Washington, 131 

Marchand, J. B., papers of, 194 

Marcoleta, J. de, letters of, 290 

Marcy, W. L., letters of, 116, 291 

Marianne Islands, 278 

Marine Corps, 199; correspondence relating to, 
186 

Marine Hospital, letters regarding, 70 



Index. 



319 



Marine Hospital Service, 63 

Markoe, Francis, papers of, 284 

Mars, brigantine, 138 

Marshall, Humphrey, letters of, 282 

Marston, John, papers of, 194 

Maryland, chancery papers, 25; colony of, 263; 
holdings in Bank of England stock, 25; 
papers relating to, 274; provincial and state 
papers of, 264; slave claim commission in, 
117 

Maryland State Colonization Society, 180 

Mason, George, 281 

Mason, J. M., 53; capture of, 26; letters of, 
270; papers of, 195 

Mason, John T., letters of, 287 

Mason and Dixon's Line, 47 

Masons, antimasonic almanac, 249; minutes of 
lodges of, 275, 276 

Massachusetts, colonial papers of, 262, 272; 
military service in the Revolution, 213, 216, 
267; revolutionary papers of, 263 

Mathews, George, letters of, 37 

Matthews, J. R., letters to, 280 

Maury, James, letters of, 279 

Maxcy, Virgil, papers of, 283 

Maximilian, emperor of Mexico, 182 

Maybrick, Mrs., 32 

Mayer, Brantz, letters of, 290 

Mayer, C. E., letter to, 140 

Mayo, Robert, Treasury Department and its 
various Fiscal Bureaus, 57, 300 

Mayson, John, orderly-book, 267 

Mead, Cowles, letters of, 41 

Medill, Joseph, letters of, 291 

Megler, J. G., papers of, 195 

Menocal, A. G., 186 

Mercantile papers, 295; see also Commerce 

Mercer, Hugh, letters of, 282 

Merchant marine, clearance and other papers 
of vessels, 294; records of, 233 

Meredith, Jonathan, papers of, 287 

Meredith, W. M., letters of, 287 

Mervine, William, papers of, 189, 193 

Metcalf, B., letters of, 41 

Metcalfe, T., letters of, 282 

Mexican Claims Commission, 252 

Mexican War, 180, 269; military records of, 
116; naval records of, 174; navy in, 181, 190; 
papers relating to, 116; pay-rolls of volun- 
teers in, 84 

Mexico, constitution of 1836, 260; decrees of, 
260; diplomatic correspondence with, 16, 27, 
53; feeling in, against Maximilian, 182; fdi- 
bustering expeditions against, 140; manu- 
scripts relating to Spanish dominion in, 
259; revolution in, 45, 51, 269; travels in, 260; 
troubles with, 23, 247; war with, see Mexican 
War 

Michael, W. H., History of the Department of 
State, 2, 3, 33, 303 

Michigan, Schoolcraft papers, 247; territorial 
papers of, 40 



Military Academy, United States, 116; ac- 
counts of, 84; inspection of, 118 

Military records, Civil War, 113, 271; courts- 
martial, courts of inquiry, and military 
commissions, 121, 270; history of, 107; Indian 
wars, 109, 116, 117; information regarding, 
300; lists of prisoners of war, 117; maps, 
charts, and surveys, 127; medical and hos- 
pital records, 107; muster and pay-rolls, 84; 
papers of Engineer Corps, 127; papers of 
Ordnance Department, 131; regular army, 
116; reports of army inspections, 118; 
Revolutionary War, 108, 114, 278, 282; signal 
service, 132; volunteer armies, 108, 116; war 
of 1812, 108, 115; Spanish- American War, 
108; see also War Department, Wars 

Miller, James, diary of, 214; orderly-book of, 
214 

Mills, Samuel, 219 

Mineral lands, 224 

Minnesota, territorial papers of, 40 

Minor, Garret, correspondence of, 287 

Minorca, siege of, 294 

Minot, R. D., papers of, 195 

Mints, 99; letters to, 70 

Missionaries, protection of American, 181 

Mississippi, lands in, 49; material relating to, 
in federal archives, 298; papers relating to 
Civil War and reconstruction in, 277; presi- 
dential election of 1876 in, 140; reconstruc- 
tion of, 54; territorial papers of, 40 

Missouri, land titles in, 142; slave claim com- 
mission in, 117; territorial papers of, 39 

Mitchell, Sir Andrew, letters of, 262 

Mitchell, D. B., letters of, 37 

Mobile, commerce of, 45 ; filibustering move- 
ments about, in 1810-1812, 41; resolution of 
loyal citizens of, 139 

Mobile Bay, battle of, 178 

Monetary conferences, 29 

Money, public, disbursement of, 77; papers 
relating to, 71; receipts and expenditures of, 
72, 75; removal of deposit of, from United 
States Bank, 65 

Money-orders, postal, 167 

Moneypenny, Alexander, journal of, 260 

Monroe, James, 269; correspondence of, 37, 
130, 269; papers of, 33, 287, 306 

Montagu, Admiral, 263 

Montana, territorial papers of, 41, 203 

Montenegro, diplomatic correspondence with, 
14, 16 

Monterey, seizure of, 180 

Montezuma, decrees concerning descendants of, 
259 

Montgomery, Colonel, correspondence of, 209 

Montgomery, Richard, letter of, 215 

Moore, J. B., International Arbitrataions, 28,34 

Morehead, C. S., letters of, 282 

Morfi, Historia de Texas, 277 

Morgan, C. W., correspondence of, 181 
Morgan, G. W., papers of, 195 
Morgan, J. M., papers of, 195 



320 



Index. 



Mormons Iti 

Morocco, diplomatic correspondence with, l, lii; 
Prencb relations with, 181] *m <i/.«" Barbery 
Powers 
Morris, Charles, letter to, t^ 

is, Gouverneur, despatches from, 14 
Morris, Robert, letters of, .';s ; papers of, 288 

. & 1 . I!., letters of. i.m. .Ms 
Morton, (i., papers of, 195 
Morton, John, J18 
Mosby, J. s., :i" 

Meaner, It. B., Emttmtivt Rtffittof of '//<• 
I ni>.<l BUtit 55 

jiiito territory, 
. I Icnc/cr, receipt-book of, 816 

ntflorence, J. < . letters or. 
Mt. Vernon, Culpepper deed of, MS 
Mullany, i. l:. ML, papers of, 195 
Murphy, II. c. letter 

Murray, W. v., letters papers of, 288 

iier, Sir Char 

... ... Italy 

Natchea, )!» 

| Mil], Of, I""' 1 

18, 70; enforcement of 
laws regarding, IK'; papers relating to, 98 
onal Museum, M6, MO 

Naturalisation, papers relating to, 139, 236 
\ i Icademy, United States, 87, 191 

I records, accounts, *7; American Revolu- 
tion, 966, 304j Civil War, 17 1, 176, 199; 
condition of, I?'; Confederate states, 117; 
construction and repair of vessels, 197; cor- 
respondence with officers, 176; correspond- 
ence relating to yards and docks, 18(i; courts- 
martial, 199; establishment of nnw, 115; 
letters of Navy Commissioners, 1H!) ; lists 
of vessels and officers, 196; log-books, 1 7<i, 
197; marine corps, 199; papers of Navy 
Commissioners, 197; pay and muster-roll s, 
88; prize cases, 190; regulations regarding 
use of, 175; squadron letters, 180; war of 
1819, 59; Mexican War, 174; see also Wars 

Navigation, Bureau of. Department of Com- 
merce and Labor, 233 

Navigation, Bureau of, Navy Department, 
196; papers relating to, 71; suits arising 
under laws respecting, 145 

Navy, corporal punishment in, 190; liquor 
ration in, 190 

Navy Department, auditor for, 86; books re- 
lating to archives of, 301; correspondence 
of, with members of Congress, 183, 184; 
Judge-Advocate-General, 199; letters to, 
from executive departments, 21, 22, 61 ; 
library of, 175; organization and history of, 
172; relations of, to Department of State, 
22, 183; use of archives of, 175 

Neapolitan indemnity, 60, 71 

Nebraska, territorial papers of, 41 

Neeser, R. \V., Statistical and Chronological 



J list, nil of the United States Navy, 1775- 
1,1 
Negroes, colonisation of, 180, 90S 

Nelson, Hugh, 37 

Netherlands, American colonies of, 260, 979; 

diplomatic correspondence with, 4, 5, 1C, -'7 

Neutrality, correspondence regarding violation 
of, .'i ; preservation of, 140 

Nevada, territorial papers of, \. 

New Bedford, custom-house at, 272 

Newcastle papers, )69 

New England, Confederation of, 272; intrigues 
with England before and during war of 
1812, 969; papers relating to, 

Newfoundland, observations on, 262 

New Granada, Bit Colombia 

New Hampshire, colony of, 263; colonial and 
revolutionary correspondence of, 271; mili- 
tary service in American Revolution, 319; 
papers relating to, 989; revolutionary pa- 
pers of, 1 1 1. '<•:'. 

New Jersey, military service in American Rev- 
olution, 217; papers relating to, 273; pro- 
prietors' account-book of East, 273 

Newman, W. B., papers of, 195 

New Mexico, Indian wars in, 11(1, 117; insur- 
rection of Indians in, under Spanish do- 
minion, 249; military government of, 117; 
Spanish and Mexican archives of, 220, 277; 
Spanish conquest of, 248; Spanish manu- 
scripts relating to, 259; territorial papers of, 
42, 90S, 906; Zufii Indians, 277 
New Netherlands, account of, 272 
New Orleans, 177, 289; battle of, 128; customs 
administration at, 66; enforcement of em- 
bargo at, 177; General Butler at, 54; papers 
of custom-house at, 282; situation in, under 
Spanish rule, 49 
Newspapers, 257, 307 

New Fork, colonial papers of, 263, 272; Con- 
tinental Loan Office receipts, 273; letters 
relating to customs administration at, 66; 
military service in American Revolution, 216; 
revolutionary papers of, 114, 264, 272, 273 

New York City Committee, minutes of, for 
1775-1776, 272 

New Zealand, correspondence, 28 

Nicaragua, arbitration of dispute with Costa 
Rica, 29; condition of, in 1868, 260; survey- 
ing expedition to, 186; see also Central 
America 

Nichols, S. S„ letters of, 282 

Nicholson, A. O. P., letters of, 289 

Nicolay, J. G, letters of, 291 

Niles, Jeremiah, orderly-books of, 213 

Niles' Register, 65 

Noah, M. M., letters of, 292 

Non-intercourse act, 62 

North, J. H., papers of, 195 

North America, Spanish manuscript relating 
to, 259 

North Carolina, abandoned lands in 1865, 138; 
adoption of federal constitution by, 276; 



Index. 



321 



colonial papers of, 276; military service in 
American Revolution, 219; revolutionary pa- 
pers of, 264, 276; state archives of, 33 

North Carolina, cruise of, 185 

North German Confederation, see Germany 

Northwest Territory, ordinance of 1787, 43, 47, 
268; papers of, 42, 47; settlement of, 268, 
286 

Norton, C. E., letters of, 290 

Norway, diplomatic correspondence with, 17; 
see also Sweden 

Nott, J. C, letters of, 290 

Nourse, J. E., papers of, 195 

Nugent, John, report of, 46 

Nullification, 63 

Ocean cables, 26 

O'Callaghan, E. B., papers of, 288 

O'Conor, Charles, letters of, 286, 288 

Offut, H. St. G., 95 

Ogden, D. B., letters of, 287 

Ogle, Admiral, 263 

Ohio, papers relating to, 286; political matters 
in, 278 

Opium traffic, suppression of, 22 

Ord, E. O. C, papers of, 247 

Orderly-books, Revolutionary War, 115 

Ordinance of 1787, 43, 47; papers relating to, 
268 

Ordnance, office of chief of, War Department, 
131 

Oregon, boundary dispute, 23; territorial pa- 
pers of, 43 

Oregon Country, 52; assertion of claims to, 179; 
papers relating to, 48 

O'Reilly, Alexander, proclamation of, 44 

Orinoco River exploration, 30 

Orleans Territory, papers of, 43 

Osage Indians, wars with, 117 

Osgood, Samuel, postal accounts of, 153 

Oswald, Richard, journal of, 48 

Otermin, Antonio de, diary of, 248 

Page, T. J., letters of, 185; papers of, 195 

Palmer, J. M., letters of, 291 

Palmer, Joseph, correspondence of, 214 

Panama, diplomatic correspondence with, 17 

Panama, Isthmus of, canal, 32; information 
regarding, 178; naval expedition to, 191 

Panama Congress, 31 

Papal States, relation of, to Italy, 181; see 
also Italy 

Paraguay, diplomatic correspondence with, 17, 
28; expedition to, 181 

Pardons, 55; papers relating to, 144 

Parker, J., papers of, 195 

Parker, Commodore Petery 263 

Parrott, E. G., papers of, 195 

Parsons, L. B., papers of, 195 

Parsons, L. E., letter to, 140 

Passports, 56; Confederate, 74 

Patents, Commissioner of, accounts, 86; corre- 
spondence, 201, 202; papers relating to, 225 
22 



Paterson, John, 213 

Paterson, William, plan of constitution, 268 

Patriot Indian war, 117 

Patterson, T. H., papers of, 193 

Paulding, H., 185 

Paulding, L., papers of, 195 

Paymaster-General, United States Army, 125 

Peabody, George, 178 

Pearson, G. F., papers of, 195 

Peltries, prices of, 208 

Pendleton, John, letters of, 282 

Penn, William, inventory of papers of, 262 

Pennock, A. M., letter of, 182 

Pennsylvania, colonial and state papers of, 
264; colony of, 263; house-tax and whiskey 
insurrections in, 273; military service in 
American Revolution, 217; papers relating 
to, 273 

Pensions, accounts of payments of and of other 
expenses connected with, 85; Bureau of, 
history and organization, 209-211; Commis- 
sioner of, correspondence, 201; decisions in 
cases concerning, 204; papers relating to, 
108 

Perez, L. M., Guide to the Materials for Amer- 
ican History in Cuban Archives, 53, 307 

Perkins, G. H., papers of, 195 

Perkins, T. H., letter of, 48 

Perry, M. C, mission of, to Japan, 181 

Perry, O. H., letters of, 177 

Persia, diplomatic correspondence with, 17 

Peru, 182; arbitration of claims against, 29; 
diplomatic correspondence with, 18, 27; let- 
ters regarding, 178 

Peters, Richard, letters of, 287 

Philadelphia, customs administration at, 66; 
mint at, 99 

Philippine Islands, papers relating to, 133, 278; 
records of insurgent government, 135 

Philips, Abraham, journal of, 219 

Phillips, S. H., 219 

Photographs, illustrating geological phenomena, 
229 

Pickens, F. W., papers of, 271 

Pickering, Timothy, Enquiry concerning the 
Northern Boundary of Louisiana, 45; letter- 
books of, 115; postal correspondence of, 153 

Pickett, J. T., letters of, 270 

Pickett papers, 73, 270 

Picornell, correspondence of, 269 

Pierce, Franklin, letter of, 130; papers of, 288 

Pierce, John, report of, 25 

Pillow, G. J., letters of, 289 

Pinckney, Thomas, letters of, 37 

Pinfold, Governor, letter-books of, 261 

Piper, John, orderly-book of, 218 

Piracy, 52, 53 

Pitcairn, Joseph, letters of, 279 

Pitt River expedition, 117 

Pittsburgh defense claims, 84 

Plata, survey of the river, 185 

Piatt, Jonas, letter of, 286 

Plumer, William, papers of, 289 



322 



Index. 



Poinsett J. R., report of, regarding Cuba, 50 
Pointdcxtcr, ('. P., papers of, 195 
Potntdezter, Reginald, papers of, 195 

Polk, J. K., papers of, i. 888 

Polydore, Henrietta, case of, 46 

Pope, John, let I its of, Ml 

Porter, A., letters of, 282 

Porter, David, Utters of, 177, 178, 269; papers 

of, 189 
Porter, D. D., papers of, 195 
Porter, J. I... papers of, im 

Porter, .1. \V. II., papers of, 195 

Porter, P, B„ letters of. m 

Porto Rfeo, papers relating to government of, 
!; Spanlab archives of. .'77 

Portsmouth, log-book of, is:» 
Portugal, American claims against 181; diplo- 
matic correspondence with, is 
Posey, i nomas, Utter of, 88 

Postal Service, during Revolutionary War, 152; 
history of, in American colonies, 152; routes, 
158, 171; in South at Opening of Civil War, 
ll!»; in West, 119; tee also Mails 

P08t-Office, Confederate States, 01, 117, 270 

Post-Office Department, accounts of, and their 
audit, 90; early records of, 268; employees of, 
156; history and organisation of, 147; letters 
to, from Treasury Department, 61 ; official 
opinions of the Assistant Attorneys-General 
for, 113; papers of, 148; suits against officers 
of, 145 

Post-offices, early list of, 164; local, accounts 
with post-Office Department, 91 

Potomac River, soundings of, 131 

Potter, Samuel, 217 

Poulteney and Mode, commercial correspond- 
ence of, 295 

Povev, Thomas, 263; documents collected by, 
108 

Pown ill, Thomas, letters of, 262; papers of, 272 

Pratt, Amos, 214 

Pray, John, correspondence of, 213 

Preble, Edward, papers of, 289 

Preble, G. H., History of the Charlestown 
Navy Yard to 1875, 191; letters of, 193 

President, papers relating to, 188 

Presidents of the United States, letters to, 
from executive departments, 60, 139, 183, 
201 ; papers of, 1 ; proclamations, orders and 
announcements, 34; tee also names of the 
several presidents 

Preston, J. S., letters of, 270 

Preston, W. C, letters of, 282 

Prevost, J. B., papers of, 52 

Price, Cicero, papers of, 195 

Princeton, explosion on, 190 

Prisoners of War, American Revolution, 219, 
264, 267; Civil War, 74; lists of, 117; war 
of 1812, 188, 249 

Prisons, federal, 89, 142, 203 

Prisse d'Avennes, letters of, 290 

Pritchett, J. M., papers of, 195 

Privateers, 52; American Revolution, 264 



Prizes, Civil War cases, 190; claims arising 

out of capture of, 253; Revolutionary prize 

appeal eases, 250 
Prussia, see Germany 
Public buildings, 99, 203; office of, 128 
Public Health and Marine Hospital Service, 

L00 
Puget Sound Agricultural Company, claims 

Of, 43 
Putnam, Rufus, letters of, 43; letter to, 154 

Quarantine, 100 

Quartermaster-General, office of, 122 
Quebec, Arnold's expedition to, 215, 216 

Had ford, William, papers of, 193 

Railroads, accidents on, 245; books relating to, 
245; cases affecting rates of, 244; land 
grants to, 139, 222; Pacific, 203; statistics 
of, 845] tariffs of, 245 

Railway mail service, 150, 161 

Ramapo patent, 273 

Ramsay, II. A., papers of, 195 

Ramsey, Archibald, 267 

Randolph, Beverly, letter of, 25 

Randolph, Kdmund, Vindication, 249 

Randolph, G. W., letter to, 249 

Randolph, John, letters of, 249, 292 

Randolph, V. M., papers of, 195 

Ranger, log-book of, 187 

Ransom, Kpaphroditus, letter of, 39 

Ransom, G. M., papers of, 195 

Read, G. C, 185 

Reagan, J. H., letter-books of, 95, 270; re- 
ports of, 94, 95 

Rebellion, Official Records of the War of the, 
113 

Reciprocity, 55; negotiations for, 82; with 
Canada, 53 

Reconstruction, papers relating to, 54, 117 

Red River, account of, 277 

Reed, William, orderly-books and roll of com- 
pany of, 213 

Reed, W. B., letters of, 287 

Register of the Treasury, 75 

Revenue Cutter service, 62, 67; administration 
of, 71 

Revenues of United States government, 72, 75 

Revere, Paul, letters of, 184 

Revolution, American, accounts of, 84; British 
secret service in, 268; civil and military pa- 
pers of, 267, 268; claims for service during, 
83; diplomatic correspondence of, 47; docu- 
ments relating to, 290; French troops in, 
268, 281, 290; German troops in, 213, 265; 
loyalists during, 267; manuscripts in foreign 
archives relating to, 265; military records of, 
108, 114; military service in, 212-219; naval 
records of, 266, 304; papers relating to, 
262, 263, 264, 282, 292; prisoners of war, 219, 
264, 267; prize appeal cases of, 250; treaty 
of peace ending, 268 

Reynolds, J. J., letter of, 139 



Index. 



323 



Reynolds, William, letter-books of, 193, 290; 
papers of, 189, 195 

Rhind, A. G, letters of, 193 

Rhode Island, boundaries, 272; colonial and 
state papers of, 263; colony of, 263; cor- 
respondence of, 272; federal judiciary in, 
25; military service in American Revolu- 
tion, 214 

Ridgway, Jacob, letters of, 279 

Rieken, letters of, 270 

Ringgold, C, 185 

Ritchie, Thomas, letters of, 292 

Rives, W. C, letters of, 280, 282 

Roanoke, log-book of, 189 

Roberts, James, orderly-book of, 213 

Robertson, J., letters of, 279 

Robinson, Jeremy, 52 

Robinson, J. H., report of, regarding Mexico, 
51 

Rochambeau, 281; correspondence of, 290; 
Washington's correspondence with, 292 

Rodgers, Commodore John, letters of, 178, 186, 
289; papers of, 173, 187 

Roe, F. A., papers of, 194 

Rogers, Edward, account-book of, 215 

Rogers, H. G., claim of, 26 

Rogue River Indian war, 117 

Rohan, H., letters of, 279 

Rome, see Italy and Papal States 

Ross, John, letters of, 209 

Rost, P. A., letters of, 270 

Roumania, diplomatic correspondence with, 18 

Rowan, S. C, letters of, 194 

Russell, Jonathan, letters of, 279 

Russia, diplomatic correspondence with, 18, 27 

Rutherford, W. H., papers of, 195 

Sabine Indian war, 117 

Sabine Pass affair, 192 

Sac Indians, war with, 116 

St. Clair, Arthur, expedition of, against In- 
dians, 84, 117; journal of, 43; papers of, 264, 
268 

St. Lawrence, cruise of, 185 

St. Thomas, proposed purchase of, 31 

Salcedo, N., letter of, 50 

Salvador, see Central America 

Samoa, 31, 32 

San Ildefonso, treaty of, 49 

Sands, B. F., letters of, 194 

Sandwich Islands, see Hawaii 

Sansbury, A. J., letters of, 287 

Santee, log-book of, 270 

Santo Domingo, see Dominican Republic 

Sardinia, diplomatic correspondence, 27; see 
also Italy 

Sargent, Winthrop, letters of, 41, 43 

Sartori, L. C, papers of, 195 

Savannah, papers of custom-house at, 276 

Savannah, log-book of, 189, 249 

Schley, William, letters of, 282 

Schober, Fred., papers of, 195 

Schoolcraft, H. R., papers of, 247, 290 



Schuyler, Philip, ledger and account-book of, 

216 
Schweighauser, J. D., 214 
Scidmore, G. H., 32 
Scott, Winfleld, letters of, 209, 282 
Seal of the United States, 55 
Secession, ordinances of, 74 
Secret service, 28, 99 
Segur, Louis Philippe de, papers of, 290 
Seminole Indians, emigration of, 209; wars 

with, 37, 116, 117 
Semmes, Raphael, 271; papers of, 195 
Senate, audit of accounts of, 89; executive 

proceedings of, 48; papers of, 255 
Serapis, log-book of, 187; report of court- 
martial to inquire into loss of, 189 
Servia, diplomatic correspondence with, 14, 18 
Sewall, Henry, journal of, 214 
Seward, W. H., letters of, 26, 281, 286; letters 

to, 53 
Shakespeare, plays of, 294 
Shaler, William, mission to Texas, 51 
Shaw, John, correspondence of, 176 
Shaw, Lemuel, letter of, 286 
Shea, J. G., letters of, 288 
Shelby, Isaac, letter to, 154 
Shepherd, David, letter of, 25 
Sheridan, P. H., letters of, 247 
Sherman, W. T., letters of, 247 
Shober, J. F., papers of, 195 
Shock, W. H., papers of, 195 
Short, W., despatches of, 16, 19 
Shuldham, Admiral, 263 

Siam, 247; diplomatic correspondence with, 19 
Sibley, John, 50 
Sicily, see Italy 

Signal service, United States army, 132 
Simms, C. C, papers of, 195 
Simpson, Edward, papers of, 195 
Sims, C. S., papers of, 195 
Sinclair, Arthur, papers of, 195 
Sinclair, G. T., papers of, 195 
Slattery, D. P., papers of, 195 
Slave-trade, 31; act prohibiting, 142; papers 

relating to, 180; suppression of, 22, 184, 202 
Slaves, carried away from Charleston by 

British in 1783, 48; claims regarding, by 

loyal states, 117; fugitive, 21, 45, 142, 277; 

manumission paper of, 249; papers relating 

to transactions in, 277 
Slidell, John, 53; capture of, 26; letters of, 

270; papers of, 195 
Smith, Alexander, 51 
Smith, Buckingham, letters of, 290 
Smith, C. B., correspondence of, 290 
Smith, Dan, letter of, 45 
Smith, E., 214 
Smith, J. C, letters of, 286 
Smith, J. S. E., Department of Justice; its 

History and Functions, 137 
Smith, John, letter of, 177 
Smith, M., papers of, 195 
Smith, P. E., papers of, 195 



324 



Index. 



Smith. Robert lette? of, W8 

Smith, T. A., Letters t.>. :i7 

Smithsonian bequest 90 

Smithsonian Institution, audit of accounts of, 

s'i; history of, 140 
Smuggling, 09, <>v 
Soder, John, account-book of, 217 
Sonor.i v Sinaloa, diary of Father Dominguez 

in, N6 
South America, i to. 189, is:» ; condition of 

Americans in, B; letters relating bo, 180, 

L81j papers relating to Spanish doniinion in, 

980; revolt of Spanish colonies In, 59; United 
States mission to, 8; United states .special 

agent in. 

Southard. S. I.., letter of. 160] letters to, 280 

South Carolina, colonial laws of, 276; colonial 
and state papers of. Jill; nullification of 
tariff law by. 83] papers relating to, J7<i; 
papers relating to Civil War, J71; revolu- 
tionary partisan warfare in. 110 

South Seas, exploration of. [84; royage to, 969 

Sonthwesl Territory, papers of, -15 

Spain, diplomatic correspondence with, i, 5, 19, 

.'7; land laws of, 69; law of, in Spanish 
territories acquired by I'nited States, 134; 
possessions of, in North America, 45, 51; 
papers relating to American possessions of, 
-'".'); relations with western territory of 
I'nited States, Jii'l; revolt of American 
Colonies Of, SI, 59; war frith, see Spanish- 
American War 

Spanish- \merican War, 87; military records 
of, 108; naval bounty claims arising out of, 
14-6; naval prize claims arising out of, -.5:5; 
work of secret service- in. !)!> 

Spanish claims commission, gg 

Sparks. Richard, report of, regarding West 
Florida frontier, 51 

Spencer, Ambrose, letters of. 99] 

Spencer, J. C, letters of, 116 

Spencer, Joseph, correspondence of, 211; or- 
derly-hook of. :i I 

Sqnier, Ephraim, diary of, 215 

Squier, E. George, letters of, 280; papers of, 
290 

Stamp Act Congress and troubles, 261 

Stamps, postage, 167 

Standards, Bureau of, 241 

Stanton, Elizabeth C, papers of, 290 

State debts, assumption of, 63 

State, Department of, auditor of, 88; books 
and articles relating to archives of, 299; 
history and functions, 2; letters to, from 
Treasury Department, 61 ; relations with 
Navy Department, 22, 183; regulations as to 
use of archives, 2, 3 

States, deposit of United States funds with, 65; 
relations between federal authorities and, 
140 

Statistical congresses, 29 

Statistics, books relating to, 235, 237; Bureau 
of, 241 



Steamboat, Fitch's invention of, 282; inspec- 
tion of, 134 
Steedman, c, papers of, 195 
Steele, W. F., correspondence of, 25 
Stephens, A. H., letters of, 281, 282, 290 
Stevens, B. F., Catalogue Index of M o H U M f inU 
in I In' Archives of England, France, Holland, 
mid Spain relating to America, 1763-1788, 
.'<i.">; 1 nt rod action to the Catalogue Index of 

Mannscii/its, 307 

Stevens, T. H., papers of, 195 

Stevenson, J. II., papers of, 195 

Stewart, Charles, letters of, 177; letters to, 

179; papers of. )64 

Stewart, Robert, letters of, 177 

Stewart, Walter, papers of, 265 

stiles, Bsra, papers of, 265 

Stirling, William Alexander, "earl of", papers 

ni'. .•<;.-, 
Stockton, R. I-'., letter of, :i(i 
stoddert, Benjamin, letters of, 278 

Stone. S. I)., Jr., papers of, 195 

Street, W. T., papers of, 195 

Strihling, C. K., papers of, 194 

Strong, John, voyage of, to South Seas, 262 

Stuart, J. E, B., letter of, 940 

Sturgis, Josiah, journal of, 48 

Sturgis, William, letter of, 48 

Subtreasuries, 77 

Sullivan, John, papers of, 265 

Sullivan, William, letters of, 287 

Sumner, Charles, letters of, 280, 286, 291 

Sumter, Fort, correspondence regarding, 74 

Sumter, Confederate steamer, 74, 186, 271 

Sunday, carriage of mails on, 147 

Supervising Architect, papers of, 72; Treasury 
Department, 99 

Supreme Court, appointments to, 144; Chase's 
notes on cases before, 280; papers of, 250, 
302; records and briefs of cases heard by, 
251; salaries of justices and officers, 89 

Surgeon-General, Department of War, 124; 
of Public Health and Marine-Hospital Serv- 
ice, 72, 100 

Surplus revenue, deposit of, with states, 65 

Surveys, of public lands, 221, 223; see also 
Geological Survey, Coast and Geodetic Sur- 
vey 

Swain, E. A., papers of, 195 

Swan, James, letters of, 279 

Sweden, diplomatic correspondence with, 19, 27 

Swedenborg, manuscripts of, 294 

Switzerland, diplomatic correspondence with, 20 

Syria, protection of missionaries in, 181 

Talleyrand, correspondence of, 50 

Taney, R. B., letters of, 292; report regard- 
ing removal of deposits from United States 
Bank, 65 

Tangier, see Barbary Powers 

Tappahannock, papers of custom-house at, 276 

Tariffs, customs, 23, 53, 61, 64; accounts of 
collection of, 82; cases arising under laws 



Index. 



325 



regarding, 145 ; cases relating to, 139 ; custom- 
houses, 30, 67; papers relating to administra- 
tion of, 66, 71; papers regarding, 63 

Tattnall, Josiah, papers of, 195 

Tatum, Howell, journal of, 128 

Taylor, F. W., 185 

Taylor, William, papers of, 290; receipt-book 
of, 213 

Taylor, Zachary, letters of, 130, 281, 282, 291 

Tazewell, Henry, letters of, 291 

Tehuantepec, isthmus of, 31 

Telegraph, 149, 154, 248 

Tennessee, boundaries of, 281; slave claim com- 
mission in, 117 

Tennessee Land Company, 49 

Territories, fiscal relations between United 
States and, 70; papers of the, 35, 202; 
salaries of governors of, 89; see also the 
names of the several territories 

Texas, 51; annexation of, 23; documents of, 
307; documents relating to history of, 277; 
Indian war in, 117; not a part of Louisiana, 
50; reconstruction of, 54; revolution in, 45 

Texas, Republic of, debt of, 71; diplomatic 
correspondence with, 20, 27, 31, 53; tariff, 
249 

Thatcher, Henry K., letter to, 182 

Theatres, posters of, 274 

Thomas, James, letters to, 290, 291 

Thompson, Jacob, papers of, 195 

Thompson, Smith, letters of, 291 

Thornton, William, papers of, 291 

Thunderer, log-book of, 294 

Ticonderoga, cruise of, 186 

Tilden, S. J., letters of, 292 

Todd, C. S., letters of, 282 

Todd, John, letter of, 25 

Toledo, Jose 1 Alvarez, correspondence of, 51, 
269 

Tombs, J. H., papers of, 195 

Tompkins, D. D., letter-book of, 273 

Toombs, Robert, letters of, 281, 282, 291 

Toulmin, Harry, letters of, 41 

Townsend, Admiral, 263 

Trade, American, 55; see also Commerce 

Trade, discourse of, 262 

Trade Relations, Bureau of, Department of 
State, 55 

Trade unions, papers of, 235 

Tramell, Denis, narrative of, 219 

Treasury Department, auditor for, 81 ; cir- 
culars and decisions, 68; functions of, 57, 
300; papers of, 57; papers of the solicitor 
of, 143; solicitor of, 145; Treasurer of the 
United States, 77 

Treaties, concerning postal affairs, 148; drafts 
of, 30; with foreign powers, 34; with In- 
dian tribes, 34, 70, 139 ; infringement of, by 
state, 23; interpretation of, 23 

Tremper, Lawrence, receipt-book and diary of, 
216 

Trenchard, S. D., papers of, 195 

Trent affair, 53; papers regarding, 26 



Trescot, W. H, correspondence of, 74 
Tripoli, letters to Bashaw of, 269; war with, 

289; see also Barbary Powers 
Trudeaux, Baptiste, journal of, 44 
Trumbull, John, letter-book of, 291 
Trumbull, Jonathan, papers of, 265 
Trumbull, Lyman, papers of, 291 
Tryon County, New York, minutes of com- 
mittee of safety, 272 
Tucker, J. R., papers of, 195 
Tucker, Samuel, papers of, 265 
Tufts, Francis, orderly-book of, 214 
Tunis, see Barbary Powers 
Turkey, diplomatic correspondence with, 20 
Turner, Commodore, correspondence, 53 
Two Sicilies, correspondence with, 176; see also 

Italy 
Tyler, John, controversy with Whigs, 63; letter 
of, 130 

Uruguay, diplomatic correspondence with, 17, 28 
Utah, Indian war in, 117; polygamy in, 203; 
territorial papers of, 46, 203 

Vail, Alfred, papers of, 248 

Van Buren, Martin, letters of, 130; papers 
of, 291 

Van Buren, T. B., 29 

Van Dyke, G. B., papers of, 195 

Van Ness, W. W., letter of, 286 

Varnick, G. L., papers of, 195 

Vea, Antonio de, journal of, 260 

Venezuela, diplomatic correspondence with, 20, 
27, 28 

Vermont, early history of, 263, 271 ; proposed 
union of, with Massachusetts and New York, 
272; revolutionary papers of, 272; revolution- 
ary records of, 114 

Vernon, Edward, correspondence of, 261 

Vessels, see Merchant marine, Steamboats 

Vetch, Samuel, 262 

Vienna, exposition at, 54 

Vincennes, list of families at, 43; resolves re- 
garding war with Great Britain, 38 

Vincennes, cruise of, 186 

Virginia, broadsides relating to, 287; claims 
regarding Illinois Country, 25 ; material relat- 
ing to, in federal archives, 298; military serv- 
ice in American Revolution, 218; papers re- 
lating to, 274 

Virginia Company of London, records of, 275, 
303 

Virginius, seizure of, 191 

Vorhees, Captain, correspondence of, 53 

Waddell, J. I., papers of, 195 

Wadsworth, Nehemiah, 215 

Wager, Charles, correspondence of, with Ed- 
ward Vernon, 261 

Waldron, Secretary, of New Hampshire, letters 
of, 271 

Walke, H, papers of, 194 

Walker, Benjamin, letter of, 278 



326 



Index. 



Walker, James, letters of, 289 
Walker, Robert, orderly-books of, W1 
Walker, Sylvanus, charges against, I!) 
"Walker, William, ordcrh -book, 213 
Walsh. Robert. Liters to, 178, ->80 

Walton, George, letter of, 38 

Walton, William, orderly-book and account- 
book of, 217 

Wanderer, slave yacht, papers relating to, 276 

War Department, archives of, 108; auditor for, 
B4] history and functions, 108 j letters to, 
from executive departments, 21, 22, 61; 
library of, 105; paper! relating to arehives 
of, 300; regulations as to use of arehives 
of, lot, 110; relations with Treasury Depart- 
ment, (i;i; sn alto Military records 

War of 1818, 51 1 British na'val records of, 188; 
< l.iiiiis arising from, for losses of property, 
84; In t e rce p ted letters, 2.5; letters and pa- 
pers relating to navy in, 177, 178, 179; 
memorial respeeting, :!>■>; military records of, 
108, 115; Niagara campaign, -79; papers 
relating to, 33, 269; papers relating to sea- 
fights in, 52; prisoners of war, 188, .'!!); 
Surrender of Detroit, 40; treaty of Ghent, 30 

Warden, D. B., letters of, 21'.) ' 

Warner, Captain Daniel, expedition of, 128; 
orderly-book, 213 

Warren,' Admiral, 263 

Warren, Joseph, letters of, 272 

Warren, William, biters of, 287 

Warrington, Lewis, letters of, 177 

Wars, grc Civil War; Indians, wars with; 
Mexican War; Spanish-American; Revolu- 
tion, American 

Washburnc, E. B., papers of, .'9J 

Washington, George, accounts of travelling 
and other expenses, 83; appointments to of- 
fice by, 55; communications of, with the 
Department of State, 48; correspondence of, 
with Continental Congress, 266; letters of, 
130; letter to, 9; monument at the birth- 
place of, 25; papers of, 33, 292, 304, 305; 
record-book of letters, 48; revolutionary 
army returns in papers of, 114 

Washington, city, defense of, in 1814, 188; 
early history of, 301 ; maps of, 131 ; papers 
relating to early history of, 129; see also 
District of Columbia 

Washington, Fort, plan of, 115 

Washington, treaty of, 31 

Washington Aqueduct, 126 

Washington monument, 128, 274, 291 

Washington Territory, papers of, 46, 203 

Wasp, sloop, 177 

Waterbury, David, 215; account-book of, 215 

Watkins, John, correspondence of, 45; service 
of, in Louisiana, 45 

Watmough, P. G., papers of, 195 

Watson, Admiral, 263 

Watson, David, correspondence of, 287 

Watterson, George, papers of, 293 

Watterson, H. M, letters of, 289 



Wayne, Anthony, expedition of, against In- 
dians, 84 

Weare, Meshech, letters of, 271; papers of, 265 

Webb, J. W., letters of, 281 

Webb, W. A., papers of, 195 

Webster, Daniel, letters of, 281, 286; papers of, 
293 

Webster, Noah, letter of, 286 

Weights and measures, 211 

Weit/.cl, John, receipt-book of, 217 

Welch, W. L., papers of, 195 

Welles, Gideon, letter of, 26; letter-books of, 
194 

Wentworth, Benning, letters of, 271 

Wentworth, John, letters of, 271 

West, Cato, letters of, 41 

West, Richard, opinions of, 261 

West Florida, 49, 51, 177; census of, 44; pa- 
pers relating to, 41; relations with Spanish 
authorities of, 45; revolution in, 45 

West Indies, 179, 183; British colonics in, 51, 
.'ill, 168 { letters regarding, 181; smuggling 
from, 62; Spanish possessions in, 260; trade 
in, 295 

W barton, Francis, Diplomatic Correspondence 
of the American Revolution, 47 

Whipple, William, papers of, 265 

Whiskey insurrection, 97, 273, 278 

White, John, papers of, 293 

Whitefield, George, papers of, 293 

White House, 129; papers of, 1 

Whittlesey, Elisha, letters of, 280 

Wilkes, Charles, explorations of, 185, 189; 
papers of, 194 

Wilkinson, James, 289; correspondence, 45, 
49, 50; official papers of, 269 

Willard, Daniel, memorandum-book of, 293 

Willenbucher, E., papers of, 195 

Williams, G. H., letter of, 142 

Williams, Thomas, 213 

Williamson, R. S., journal of, 128 

Willing, G. M„ letter of, 36 

Wilson, Dr., trouble of, with King of Johanna, 
191 

Wilson, J. A., letter-book of, 217 

Wilson, T. D., papers of, 195 

Wilson, William, receipt-book of, 217 

Winchester, James, letter-book of, 294; letters 
to, 280 

Winder, W. H., 119; papers of, 265 

Winslow, J. A., correspondence of, 182; pa- 
pers of, 195 

Winsor, Justin, Narrative and Critical History 
of America, 297 

Winthrop, R. C, letters of, 281, 282 

Wirt, William, 137; letter of, 286 

Wise, H. A., papers of, 195 

Witman, John, receipt-book of, 217 

Wood, Eli, day-book of, 216 

Wood, Ezra, 213 

Wood, J. T., papers of, 195 

Wood, W. B., letters of, 287 

Woodbury, Levi, letters of, 292; letter to, 142 



Index. 



327 



Woodhull, Maxwell, papers of, 195 

Woodward, A. B., letters of, 40 

Woolworth, J. M., letter of, 42 

Worden, J. L., papers of, 195 

Worsdall, J., letters of, 279 

Worthington, W. G. D., letters of, 28 

Wright, C. D., and Hunt, William C, History 
and Growth of the United States Census, 301 

Wright, M. J., papers of, 195 

Wright, Silas, letters of, 291 

Wright, Thomas, letters of, 290 

Wright and Company, commercial correspond- 
ence of, 295 

Wyman, R. H., letter of, 182 

Wyoming, territorial papers of, 46, 203 



Yakama Indian war, 117 
Yancey, Charles, letters of, 281 
' Yancey, W. L., letters of, 270 
Yazoo claims, 49 
Yeates, Jasper, letters of, 264 
Yell, Archibald, letters of, 289 
Yellow Fever Institute, 100 
Yellowstone Park, 126 
Yost, G. R., papers of, 195 
Young, Brigham, 140 

Yucatan, correspondence, 28; letters regarding 
probable annexation of, 177 

Zufii Indians, 277 

Zurich, letter respecting United States consul- 
ate at, 20 


































































































































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